---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 473"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "473"
heading: "Dealing in counterfeit obligations or securities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/473"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 25 — Counterfeiting and Forgery"
---

# §473. Dealing in counterfeit obligations or securities


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) buys, sells, exchanges, transfers, receives, or delivers any false, forged, counterfeited, or altered obligation or other security of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), with the intent that the same be passed, published, or used as true and genuine, 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(d), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 340.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 268 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 154, 35 Stat. 1117).

Reference to circulating notes of banking associations was omitted as covered by definition of obligation or other security in section 8 of this title.

Changes in phraseology were made.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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

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