---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 483"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "483"
heading: "Uttering counterfeit foreign bank notes"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/483"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 25 — Counterfeiting and Forgery"
---

# §483. Uttering counterfeit foreign bank notes


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), within the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), utters, passes, puts off, or tenders in payment, with intent to defraud, any such false, forged, altered, or counterfeited bank note or bill, mentioned in [section 482 of this title](/usc/18/482.md), knowing the same to be so false, forged, altered, and counterfeited, whether or not the same was made, forged, altered, or counterfeited within 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. 708; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 375(f), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 342.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 273 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 159, 35 Stat. 1118).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Changes were made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.