1. U.S. Code
  2. title 31
  3. subtitle IV
  4. chapter 51
  5. subchapter V
  6. § 5153

Collapse to view only § 5153. Counterfeit currency

§ 5151. Conversion of currency of foreign countries
(a) In this section—
(1) “buying rate” means the buying rate in the market in New York, New York, for cable transfers payable in the currency of a foreign country to be converted.
(2) when merchandise is exported on a day that banks are generally closed in New York, the buying rate at noon on the last prior business day is deemed to be the buying rate at noon on the day the merchandise is exported.
(b) The value of coins of a foreign country expressed in United States money is the value of the pure metal of the standard coin of the foreign country. The Secretary of the Treasury shall estimate the values of standard coins of the country quarterly and publish the values on the first day of January, April, July, and October of each year.
(c) Except as provided in this section, conversion of currency of a foreign country into United States currency for assessment and collection of duties on merchandise imported into the United States shall be made at values published by the Secretary under subsection (b) of this section for the quarter in which the merchandise is exported.
(d) If the Secretary has not published a value for the quarter in which the merchandise is exported, or if the value published by the Secretary varies by at least 5 percent from a value measured by the buying rate at noon on the day the merchandise is exported, the conversion of the currency of the foreign country shall be made at a value—
(1) equal to the buying rate at noon on the day the merchandise is exported; or
(2) prescribed by regulation of the Secretary for the currency that is equal to the first buying rate certified for that currency by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York under subsection (e) of this section in the quarter in which the merchandise is exported, but only if the buying rate at noon on the day the merchandise is exported varies less than 5 percent from the buying rate first certified.
(e) The Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall decide the buying rate and certify the rate to the Secretary. The Secretary shall publish the rate at times and to the extent the Secretary considers necessary. In deciding the buying rate, the Bank may—
(1) consider the last ascertainable transactions and quotations (direct or through exchange of other currencies); and
(2) if there is no buying rate, calculate the rate from—
(A) actual transactions and quotations in demand or time bills of exchange; or
(B) the last ascertainable transactions and quotations outside the United States in or for exchange payable in United States currency or foreign currency.
(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 991.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 5151

§ 5152. Value of United States money holdings in international institutions

The Secretary of the Treasury shall maintain the value in terms of gold of the holdings of United States money of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Development Association, and the Asian Development Bank to the extent provided in the articles of agreement of those institutions. Amounts necessary to maintain the value may be appropriated. Amounts appropriated under this section remain available until expended.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 992.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 5152

§ 5153. Counterfeit currency

Disbursing officials of the United States Government and officers of national banks shall stamp or mark the word “counterfeit”, “altered”, or “worthless” on counterfeit notes intended to circulate as currency that are presented to them. An official or officer wrongfully stamping or marking an item of genuine United States currency (including a Federal reserve note or a circulating note of Federal reserve banks and national banks) shall redeem the currency at face value when presented.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 992.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 5153

§ 5154. State taxation

A State or a territory or possession of the United States may tax United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) as money on hand or on deposit in the same way and at the same rate that the State, territory, or possession taxes other forms of money. This section does not affect a law taxing national banks.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 992; Pub. L. 97–452, § 1(22), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2477.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 5154

§ 5155. Providing engraved plates of portraits of deceased members of Congress

On conditions the Secretary of the Treasury decides, the Secretary may send an engraved plate of a portrait of a deceased Senator or Representative to an heir or legal representative of such a Senator or Representative.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 993.)

CITE AS: 31 USC 5155