18 USC § 472 - Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s472"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 472 - Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "472"
section_name: "Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities"
chapter_number: 25
chapter_name: "COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 705; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 374(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 340.)"
---


# § 472. Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities

Whoever, with intent to defraud, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or with like intent brings into the United States or keeps in possession or conceals any falsely made, forged, counterfeited, or altered obligation or other security of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

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**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 705; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 374(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 340.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 265 (, ).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Changes in phraseology were made.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2001— substituted “20 years” for “fifteen years”.

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.