Just for fun. My friend hears me talk every day about the items I find interesting to me and dug into his closet to show me these. Previously owned by his dad, I did find them interesting. Making jewelry from a quarter, more than likely to sell it for a value worth more and at the same time aquiring silver as a by-product is near genius, if not only illegal too. These are sliced in half(thickness) and than carved. They look much better than these images show....... but........... https://www.livescience.com/34286-legal-or-illegal-to-destroy-coins-paper-money.html
anyone who “alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens” coins can face fines or prison time. “mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued,” can be fined or imprisoned as well. Jewellery made from cut out coins has been around as long as I can remember, let's just say a good long time. Either this law is not much enforced, or article does not tell the whole story when it comes to coins. As for currency, think the purpose for which the alteration was made comes into it.
U.S. Title 18, Chapter 17, Section 331: Prohibits among other things, fraudulent alteration and mutilation of coins. This statue does not, however, prohibit the mutilation of coins if done without fraudulent intent if the mutilated coins are not used fraudulently. The arcade machines in amusement parks that press a Cent or Penny to make them elongated are quite legal. As are the defacing in the name of art, Nickles to make Hobo Nickels.
Hi, My favorite lapel pin was the American eagle cut out from a silver dollar and then covered with tiny maracites. When I would wear it everyone thought I was some kind of federal employee. Usually a Treasury employee or a FBI agent. It always sparkled like it was diamond covered pin. I lost it many years ago and have always been on the look out for it or another. I am hoping it was not real diamonds since I only paid 5 dollars for it. greg
