Q: Is it illegal to make fake money if it is clearly fake?
I want to make 1:1 hand drawn copies of US currency, and present them as an artwork. I wouldn't be attempting to make them realistic, I would only be drawing them with cheap markers on green copy paper. I want to know if it would be illegal to sell the artwork if somebody was interested in buying it. I would sell it for either the identical price/dollar bill or more. I believe it would be paying more for the labor hours of the art than the physical art itself.
A: You are not the first to use currency as a medium or such. There is tons of credible sources you can read. An attorney is not going to green light your sales on a free online Q and A.
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
Creating hand-drawn copies of U.S. currency, even if not intended to be used as real money, can navigate a fine line legally. Under U.S. law, reproducing currency with the intent to deceive is illegal. However, the law allows for the creation of illustrations of currency under specific conditions, such as the reproduction being less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half the size of the actual currency, among other restrictions. Your intention to create these drawings as artwork, without the intent to use them as actual currency, is an important distinction.
Selling such artwork is not inherently illegal, provided that the reproductions clearly cannot be mistaken for genuine currency and comply with legal guidelines for the reproduction of currency images. The key factor is ensuring that these reproductions are obviously art and not capable of being used as real money. Transparency about the artistic nature of the work and its intent is crucial.
Before proceeding with your project, it may be wise to consult legal advice or review the guidelines provided by the U.S. Treasury or the Secret Service regarding the reproduction of currency images. This can help ensure that your art project does not unintentionally cross legal boundaries. Selling your artwork as described, focusing on the artistic effort and value rather than attempting to replicate currency for deceptive purposes, generally aligns with legal standards, but caution and informed compliance are essential.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
