18 USC § 478 - Foreign obligations or securities

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s478"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 478 - Foreign obligations or securities"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "478"
section_name: "Foreign 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. 707; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 375(a), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 341.)"
---


# § 478. Foreign obligations or securities

Whoever, within the United States, with intent to defraud, falsely makes, alters, forges, or counterfeits any bond, certificate, obligation, or other security of any foreign government, purporting to be or in imitation of any such security issued under the authority of such foreign government, or any treasury note, bill, or promise to pay, lawfully issued by such foreign government and intended to circulate as money, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 707; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 375(a), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 341.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 270 (, ).

Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by .

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Changes were also made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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

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