§ 332. — Debasement of coins; alteration of official scales, or embezzlement of metals.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC332]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 17--COINS AND CURRENCY
Sec. 332. Debasement of coins; alteration of official scales, or
embezzlement of metals
If any of the gold or silver coins struck or coined at any of the
mints of the United States shall be debased, or made worse as to the
proportion of fine gold or fine silver therein contained, or shall be of
less weight or value than the same ought to be, pursuant to law, or if
any of the scales or weights used at any of the mints or assay offices
of the United States shall be defaced, altered, increased, or diminished
through the fault or connivance of any officer or person employed at the
said mints or assay offices, with a fraudulent intent; or if any such
officer or person shall embezzle any of the metals at any time committed
to his charge for the purpose of being coined, or any of the coins
struck or coined at the said mints, or any medals, coins, or other
moneys of said mints or assay offices at any time committed to his
charge, or of which he may have assumed the charge, every such officer
or person who commits any of the said offenses shall be fined under this
title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 700; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 280 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch.
321, Sec. 166, 35 Stat. 1120).
Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.
Amendments
1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this title'' for
``fined not more than $10,000''.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 492 of this title.
