31 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2023 Edition
Title 31 - MONEY AND FINANCE
SUBTITLE IV - MONEY
CHAPTER 51 - COINS AND CURRENCY
SUBCHAPTER V - MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 5153 - Counterfeit currency
From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

### §5153. Counterfeit currency

Disbursing officials of the United States Government and officers of national banks shall stamp or mark the word "counterfeit", "altered", or "worthless" on counterfeit notes intended to circulate as currency that are presented to them. An official or officer wrongfully stamping or marking an item of genuine United States currency (including a Federal reserve note or a circulating note of Federal reserve banks and national banks) shall redeem the currency at face value when presented.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 992.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large)
--- | --- | ---
5153 | 31:424. | June 30, 1876, ch. 156, §5, 19 Stat. 64.

The words "Disbursing officials" are substituted for "officers charged with the receipt or disbursement of public moneys" for consistency in the revised title and other titles of the United States Code. The word "mark" is substituted for "write in plain letters" to eliminate unnecessary words. The words "counterfeit notes intended to circulate as currency" are substituted for "all fraudulent notes issued in the form of, and intended to circulate as money" for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code. The last sentence is substituted for the words following the semicolon in 31:424 for clarity and to reflect the legislative history of the derivative source. See 4 Cong. Rec. 2225–2228, 3148. In that sentence, the words "United States currency (including a Federal reserve note or a circulating note of Federal reserve banks and national banks)" are substituted for "any genuine note of the United States, or of the national banks" for consistency with section 5103 of the revised title.