---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 472"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "472"
heading: "Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/472"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 25 — Counterfeiting and Forgery"
---

# §472. Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), with intent to defraud, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or with like intent brings into the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) or keeps in possession or conceals any falsely made, forged, counterfeited, or altered obligation or other security of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 705; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 374(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 340.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 265 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 151, 35 Stat. 1116).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Changes in phraseology were made.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2001—Pub. L. 107–56 substituted “20 years” for “fifteen years”.

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.