Everything within me is shouting no

Jewelry Discussion
41 
However, if the coins are no longer considered legal tender, even
if they are old U.S. coins, then I don't think the currency
counterfeiting laws quite apply.

Sorry, Peter, yes they do apply. And even the oldest of coins from
any of the US mints are still legal tender.

The Treasury Dept says that if you cast a copy, you must mark it
“Replica”.

Wayne Emery

42

In casting a “counterfeit” coin or bill, you need to somehow,
obviously mark it as a fake. Maybe on the back half of coin put
"FAKE" or something just as obvious… They don’t REALLY use
millions of legal dollars on TV you know.

Val

43 
But John, The copies I was talking about are indeed clearly marked
and sold as copies. There is no fraud.

Yes, Peter, as both of us have said already. The thing is that
several people posted saying, “Hey, just mold them and cast them in
14kt, and you’ll save weight.” Realizing that it’s unlikely that
you’ll get caught for molding a coin, THAT is still counterfeiting,
as I would make the assumption that the bracelet in question in
mostly US coin. I think is was Wayne who drove it home this morning

  • England changed to a decimal pound, and money prior to that is ~no
    longer money~. The EU went to the Euro, and Italian Lire are ~no
    longer money~. They are maybe still collectable, but they aren’t
    legal tender anymore. America - the United States Government -has
    never voided any of it’s money. All US currency is still legal
    tender, and subject to counterfeit law. I don’t know the details,
    but there are even laws as to how much things must be defaced to
    copy them and such.

I believe a paper bill has to be 50% larger, for instance. It’s not
so horribly, terribly urgent to know, it was just the “hey, just mold
'em…” That got me. Then you have the mold, and you make
another bracelet, and a necklace, and after a while you start
forgetting to tell people that they’re not real (hey, they didn’t
ask…), and that’s how it works. “Of course it’s a real Greek
coin, would I steer ya wrong?”

44

Here is an interesting take on the counterfeiting question:
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/11h

Dana Carlson
AlchemistCasting.com

45 
I think is was Wayne who drove it home this morning - England
changed to a decimal pound, and money prior to that is ~no longer
money~.

I believe that sovereigns and guineas are still legal tender here,
though I’ve never tried buying anything with them!

Legal or not, I would still have issues regarding making close copies
of anything without clearly marking them as such. They may be sold
and bought as copies, but sooner or later they’re going to find
themselves being bequeathed or given to someone who may not know
their history, then sold on in good faith as the real thing.