---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 490"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "490"
heading: "Minor coins"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/490"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 25 — Counterfeiting and Forgery"
---

# §490. Minor coins


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) falsely makes, forges, or counterfeits any coin in the resemblance or similitude of any of the one-cent and 5-cent coins minted at the mints of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9); or

[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or brings into the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), or possesses any such false, forged, or counterfeited coin, with intent to defraud any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 709; Pub. L. 98–216, § 3(b)(1), Feb. 14, 1984, 98 Stat. 6; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 278 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 164, 35 Stat. 1119).

Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title.

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Changes were made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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

1984—Pub. L. 98–216 substituted “one-cent and 5-cent coins minted” for “minor coins coined”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–216, § 4(c), Feb. 14, 1984, 98 Stat. 7, provided that: “The amendments made by sections 1(3), (4), and (7) and 3(b)(1) of this Act [amending this section and sections 3322, 3528, and 5132 of Title 31, Money and Finance] are effective as of September 13, 1982.”