Be Honest..Is It Legal or Not ??

Can you sell a replica Morgan Silver Dollar legally if stamped on the backside of the coin reads "copy". Don't give me the crap about it's illegal to just to own one as we all know replica's are here to stay and own.

 

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With "COPY" on it, it's not counterfeit, thereby, not illegal.

 

Appreciate your quick reply.

 

But not my answer? You must have lost a bet.

 

I agree with Rick .............again !!!!!

 

There are specifics regarding the font and location of the word copy. Check out section 304.6 of the Hobby Protection Act:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2012-title16-vol1/pdf/CFR-2012-title16-vol1-sec304-6.pdf

TC

 

So long as the lettering is the proper size (2 mm), it is completely legal.

BTW, the courts have ruled "possession of counterfeit coins without intent to defraud doesn't violate [the law]".

 

With common Morgan and Peace silver dollars price points probably in a ten year low why would you waste your money on a copy?

 

Technically speaking a replica Morgan stamped copy did for a period of time during its production process exist as a counterfeit. From the time the actual replica coin was struck until the time "COPY" was stamped into the coin. The Hobby Protection Act needs to be changed requiring "COPY" be a design element of the die, mold, etc used for producing replica coins.

The act has always confused me. Is it legal to own replica coin dies without the required "COPY" stamped in the design?

 

Really? From what I heard, Morgans are really popular so they are hard to get a bargain on.

 

I can buy Morgans as well as Peace silver dollars pennies over spot any time . And what you hear and what is are two different things .

 

Where is the best place to find low-priced silver dollars? The best prices that I see online are around $19.00 for culls. My LCS is a pawn shop, and they charge outrageous amounts, like $55 for common XF Peace Dollars.

 

I find them at local shows $18 -24 sometimes higher in xf and up, culls are a lot less.

 

As near as I can tell from looking over the laws, no it is not legal. (Title 18 Chap 25 Sec 487) The one way it seems to be OK from that Sec is if you somehow obtain "lawful authority". I have no idea how you manage to get that. (Maybe D Carr knows. Under this statute his dies would be illegal if he didn't have "Lawful Authority".)

Whoever, without lawful authority, makes any die, hub, or mold, or any part thereof, either of steel or plaster, or any other substance, in likeness or similitude, as to the design or the inscription thereon, of any die, hub, or mold designated for the coining or making of any of the genuine gold, silver, nickel, bronze, copper, or other coins coined at the mints of the United States; or

Whoever, without lawful authority, possesses any such die, hub, or mold, or any part thereof, or permits the same to be used for or in aid of the counterfeiting of any such coins of the United States—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than fifteen years, or both.

 

Then how can anyone lawfully produce replica coins that are counter-stamped "COPY" ?

 

The only way I can see to do it is to have COPY in RAISED letters on the die or mold so that when the replica is created it has COPY incused into it at the moment of creation. Even then I'm not sure if the dies with COPY on them would be legal. Possibly if you are in that business you can get a license or something from the Treasury dept so you're "Legally Authorized". Otherwise, as written I can't see how it could be legally done.

 

One very simple way - China. Our laws have no authority there.

 

The operative phrase is "intent to defraud"

 

But even with lawful authority of owning a set of dies. If used to manufacture replica coinage; you produce a product that does not conform to the act. From the moment the replica is struck until the point in the manufacturing process "COPY" is counter-stamped.

 

Did you miss the part in my post where I said the dies had COPY in raised letters on them so the replicas would be marked in compliance with the Act from the moment of their creation? (Of course since typically only one side says COPY the die for the other side would still be illegal unless the company had received "Lawful Authority".

To whom are you replying? Can't be me because the Statute I posted does not contain that phrase.