Coinage Offences
COINAGE OFFENCES ACT
CHAPTER 11:15
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Act
12 of 1925
Amended by
20 of 1936
136/1976
45 of 1979
L.R.O.
Current Authorised Pages
Pages Authorised
(inclusive) by L.R.O.
1–14 ..
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
2 Chap. 11:15 Coinage Offences
Note on Subsidiary Legislation
This Chapter contains no subsidiary legislation.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Coinage Offences Chap. 11:15 3
CHAPTER 11:15
COINAGE OFFENCES ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
“Possession”.
3. Counterfeiting gold or silver coin.
4. Colouring counterfeit coin or any pieces of metal, with intent to make
them pass for gold or silver coin.
5. Impairing gold or silver coin, etc.
6. Unlawful possession of filings or clippings of gold or silver coins.
7. Buying or selling, etc., counterfeit gold or silver coin for lower value
than its denomination.
8. Importing counterfeit coin.
9. Exporting counterfeit coin.
10. Uttering counterfeit gold or silver coin.
11. Uttering accompanied by possession of other counterfeit coin, or
followed by a second uttering.
12. Having three or more pieces of counterfeit gold or silver coin in
possession, with intent to utter same.
13. Every second offence of uttering after a previous conviction shall be
an arrestable offence.
14. Uttering foreign coin, medals, etc., as current coin, with intent to
defraud.
15. Counterfeiting, etc., copper coin.
16. Uttering base copper coin.
17. Defacement of coin.
18. Tender of coin so defaced not to be a legal tender, and penalty for
uttering the same.
19. Punishment for selling medals resembling current coin.
20. Prohibition of importation of imitation coin.
21. Making, mending or having possession of any coining tools, arrestable
offence.
22. Coin suspected to be diminished or counterfeit may be cut by any
person to whom it is tendered.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
4 Chap. 11:15 Coinage Offences
23. Provision for the discovery and seizure of counterfeit coin and coining
tools, for securing them as evidence, and for ultimately disposing
of them.
24. What shall be sufficient proof of coin being counterfeit.
25. Where the counterfeiting coin shall be complete.
26. Any person may apprehend offenders against this Act.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS—Continued
SECTION
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Coinage Offences Chap. 11:15 5
CHAPTER 11:15
COINAGE OFFENCES ACT
An Act for the punishment of offences relating to the coin.
[3RD APRIL 1925]
1. This Act may be cited as the Coinage Offences Act.
2. (1) In this Act—
“Commonwealth country” means any country to which section 18
of the Constitution applies;
“copper coin” includes any coin of any metal or mixed metal (not
being a gold or silver coin) coined in any mint belonging to
the Government or the Central Bank or coined for or on
behalf of the Government or the Central Bank or lawfully
current in Trinidad and Tobago or in any other country;
“current coin” includes any coin coined in any mint belonging to
the Government or the Central Bank or coined for or on
behalf of the Government or the Central Bank or lawfully
current in Trinidad and Tobago or in any other country;
“current gold or silver coin” includes any gold or silver coin
coined in any mint belonging to the Government or the
Central Bank or coined for or on behalf of the Government
or the Central Bank or lawfully current in Trinidad and
Tobago or in any other country;
“false or counterfeit coin resembling or apparently intended to
resemble or pass for any current gold or silver coin” includes
any of the current coin which shall have been gilt, silvered,
washed, coloured, or cased over, or in any manner altered,
so as to resemble, or be apparently intended to resemble or
pass for, any current coin of a higher denomination.
(2) Where the having of any matter in the custody or
possession of any person is mentioned in this Act, it includes not
only the having of it by himself in his personal custody or
possession but also the knowingly and wilfully having it in the
1950 Ed.
Ch. 4 No. 8.
12 of 1925.
Commencement.
Short title.
Interpretation.
“Possession”.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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actual custody or possession of any other person, and also the
knowingly and wilfully having it in any dwelling-house or other
building, lodging, apartment, field, or other place, open or enclosed,
whether belonging to or occupied by himself or not, and whether
such matter is so had for his own use or benefit or for that of any
other person.
3. Any person who falsely makes or counterfeits any coin
resembling or apparently intended to resemble or pass for any
current gold or silver coin is liable to imprisonment for life.
4. Any person who gilds or silvers or who, with any wash or
materials capable of producing the colour or appearance of gold
or of silver, or by any means whatsoever, washes, cases over, or
colours any coin whatsoever resembling or apparently intended to
resemble or pass for any current gold or silver coin; or who gilds
or silvers or, with any wash or materials capable of producing the
colour or appearance of gold or of silver, or by any means
whatsoever, washes, cases over, or colours any piece of silver, or
copper, or of coarse gold or coarse silver, or of any metal or mixture
of metals respectively, being of a fit size and figure to be coined,
and with intent that the same shall be coined into false and
counterfeit coin resembling or apparently intended to resemble or
pass for any current gold or silver coin; or who gilds or, with any
wash or materials capable of producing the colour or appearance
of gold, or by any means whatsoever, washes, cases over, or colours
any current silver coin, or files or in any manner alters such coin,
with intent to make the same resemble or pass for any current gold
coin; or who gilds or silvers or who, with any wash or materials
capable of producing the colour or appearance of gold or silver, or
by any means whatsoever, washes, cases over, or colours any
current copper coin, or files or in any manner alters such coin,
with intent to make the same resemble or pass for any current gold
or silver coin, is liable to imprisonment for ten years.
5. Any person who impairs, diminishes or lightens any current
gold or silver coin, with intent that the coin so impaired, diminished,
or lightened may pass for current gold or silver coin, is liable to
imprisonment for three years.
Counterfeiting
gold or silver
coin.
Colouring
counterfeit coin
or any pieces of
metal, with
intent to make
them pass for
gold or silver
coin.
Impairing gold
or silver coin,
etc.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Coinage Offences Chap. 11:15 7
6. Any person who unlawfully has in his custody or
possession any filings or clippings, or any gold or silver bullion,
or any gold or silver in dust, solution, or otherwise, which has
been produced or obtained by impairing, diminishing, or lightening
any current gold or silver coin, knowing the same to have been so
produced or obtained, is liable to imprisonment for three years.
7. Any person who without lawful authority or excuse (the
proof whereof lies on the party accused), buys, sells, receives, pays,
or puts off, or offers to buy, sell, receive, pay, or put off, any false
or counterfeit coin resembling or apparently intended to resemble
or pass for any current gold or silver coin, at or for a lower rate or
value than the same imports or was apparently intended to import,
is liable to imprisonment for ten years; and in any indictment for
any such offence under this section it shall be sufficient to allege
that the party accused bought, sold, received, paid, or put off, or
offered to buy, sell, receive, pay, or put off, the false or counterfeit
coin at or for a lower rate or value than the same imports or was
apparently intended to import, without alleging at or for what rate,
price, or value the same was bought, sold, received, paid, or put
off, or offered to be bought, sold, received, paid, or put off.
8. Any person who without lawful authority or excuse (the
proof whereof lies on the party accused), imports or receives into
Trinidad and Tobago any false or counterfeit coin resembling or
apparently intended to resemble or pass for any current gold or
silver coin, knowing the same to be false or counterfeit, is liable to
imprisonment for fourteen years.
9. Any person who without lawful authority or excuse (the
proof whereof lies on the party accused), exports or puts on board
any ship, vessel, or boat for the purpose of being exported from
Trinidad and Tobago, any false or counterfeit coin, resembling or
apparently intended to resemble or pass for any current coin,
knowing the same to be false or counterfeit, is liable to
imprisonment for fourteen years.
Unlawful
possession of
filings or
clippings of
gold or silver
coins.
Buying or
selling, etc.,
counterfeit gold
or silver coin
for lower value
than its
denomination.
[45 of 1979].
Importing
counterfeit
coin.
Exporting
counterfeit
coin.
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
8 Chap. 11:15 Coinage Offences
10. Any person who tenders, utters or puts off any false or
counterfeit coin resembling or apparently intended to resemble or
pass for any current gold or silver coin, knowing the same to be
false or counterfeit, is liable to imprisonment for one year.
11. Any person who tenders, utters or puts off any false or
counterfeit coin resembling or apparently intended to resemble
or pass for any current gold or silver coin, knowing the same to
be false or counterfeit, and who, at the time of such tendering,
uttering, or putting off, has in his custody or possession, besides
the false or counterfeit coin so tendered, uttered, or put off, any
other piece of false or counterfeit coin resembling or apparently
intended to resemble or pass for any current gold or silver coin,
or who, either on the day of such tendering, uttering, or putting
off, or within the space of ten days then next ensuing, tenders,
utters, or puts off any false or counterfeit coin resembling or
apparently intended to resemble or pass for any current gold or
silver coin, knowing the same to be false or counterfeit, is liable
to imprisonment for two years.
12. Any person who has in his custody or possession three or
more pieces of false or counterfeit coin resembling or apparently
intended to resemble or pass for any current gold or silver coin,
knowing the same to be false or counterfeit, and with intent to
utter or put off the same or any of them, is liable to imprisonment
for three years.
13. Any person who, having been convicted, either before or
after the commencement of this Act, of any offence mentioned in
section 10, 11 or 12 or of any arrestable offence against this or any
former written law relating to the coin, afterwards commits any of
the offences mentioned in any of the said sections is liable to
imprisonment for ten years.
14. Any person who, with intent to defraud, tenders, utters, or
puts off, as or for any current gold or silver coin, any coin not
being such current gold or silver coin, or any medal or piece of
metal or mixed metals, resembling in size, figure, and colour the
current coin as or for which the same is so tendered, uttered, or put
Uttering
counterfeit gold
or silver coin.
Uttering
accompanied by
possession of
other counterfeit
coin, or
followed by a
second uttering.
Having three
or more pieces
of counterfeit
gold or silver
coin in
possession, with
intent to utter
same.
Every second
offence of
uttering after a
previous
conviction shall
be an arrestable
offence.
[45 of 1979].
Uttering foreign
coin, medals,
etc., as current
coin, with intent
to defraud.
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Coinage Offences Chap. 11:15 9
off, such coin, medal, or piece of metal or mixed metals so tendered,
uttered, or put off being of less value than the current coin as or for
which the same shall be so tendered, uttered, or put off, is liable to
imprisonment for one year.
15. Any person who falsely makes or counterfeits any coin
resembling or apparently intended to resemble or pass for any
current copper coin, and any person who, without lawful authority
or excuse (the proof whereof lies on the party accused), knowingly
makes or mends, or begins or proceeds to make or mend, or buy or
sell, or have in his custody or possession any instrument, tool, or
engine adapted and intended for the counterfeiting of, any current
copper coin, or buys, sells, receives, pays or puts off, or offers to
buy, sell, receive, pay, or put off, any false or counterfeit coin
resembling or apparently intended to resemble or pass for any
current copper coin, at or for a lower rate or value than the same
imports or was apparently intended to import, is liable to
imprisonment for ten years.
16. Any person who tenders, utters, or puts off any false or
counterfeit coin resembling or apparently intended to resemble or
pass for any current copper coin, knowing the same to be false or
counterfeit, or who has in his custody or possession three or more
pieces of false or counterfeit coin resembling or apparently intended
to resemble or pass for any current copper coin, knowing the same
to be false or counterfeit, and with intent to utter or puts off the
same or any of them, is liable to imprisonment for one year.
17. Any person who defaces any current gold, silver, or copper
coin, by stamping or otherwise putting thereon any names, or
words, or letters, or by cutting any marks on the same, or by
perforating the same, whether such coin is or is not thereby
diminished or lightened, is liable to imprisonment for one year.
18. No tender of payment in money made in any gold, silver,
or copper coin so defaced as mentioned in section 17 shall be
allowed to be a legal tender; and any person who tenders, utters or
puts off any coin so defaced is liable on summary conviction to a
fine of two hundred dollars, or to imprisonment for three months.
Counterfeiting,
etc., copper
coin.
Uttering base
copper coin.
Defacement
of coin.
Tender of coin
so defaced not
to be a legal
tender, and
penalty for
uttering the
same.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
10 Chap. 11:15 Coinage Offences
19. Any person who without due authority or excuse (the proof
whereof lies on the person accused) makes or has in his possession
for sale, or offers for sale, or sells any medal, cast, coin, or any
other like thing made wholly or partially of metal or any metallic
combination and resembling in size, figure, and colour any current
gold or silver coin, or having thereon a device resembling any
device on any current gold or silver coin, or being so formed that
it can by gilding, silvering, colouring, washing, or other like
process, be so dealt with as to resemble any current gold or silver
coin, is liable to imprisonment for one year.
20. (1) It shall not be lawful to import or bring into Trinidad
and Tobago any imitation coin as defined by this section, and any
such imitation coin shall be included among the goods enumerated
and described in the table of prohibitions and restrictions inwards
contained in section 45 of the Customs Act, and the law relating to
the customs shall apply accordingly.
However, the Comptroller of Customs and Excise may permit
the importation of any imitation coin in a particular instance if he
is satisfied that such importation is for the purposes of knowledge
or art, or any exhibition or collection, or for any lawful purpose,
and that the imitation coin is not likely to circulate as current coin,
or to be otherwise used for deceiving the public.
(2) Each of the following articles, if not a current coin,
shall be an imitation coin within the meaning of this section, that
is to say:
(a) any piece of gold, silver, copper, or bronze, or of
metal or mixed metal, purporting to be a current
coin or a token for Trinidad and Tobago or foreign
money, or bearing any word or device which
indicates or may reasonably be taken to indicate
that the holder thereof is entitled to demand any
value in Trinidad and Tobago or foreign money
denoted thereon; and
(b) any metal, cast, coin, or other like thing made
wholly or partially of metal or any metallic
combination, and resembling in size, figure, and
Punishment for
selling medals
resembling
current coin.
Prohibition of
importation of
imitation coin.
Ch. 78:01.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Coinage Offences Chap. 11:15 11
colour any current coin, or having thereon a
device resembling any device on any current coin,
or being so formed that it can, by gilding,
silvering, colouring, washing, or other like
process, be so dealt with as to resemble any
current coin.
21. Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse (the
proof whereof lies on the party accused) knowingly makes or
mends, or begins or proceeds to make or mend, or buys or sells or
has in his custody or possession, any puncheon, counter-puncheon,
matrix, stamp, die, pattern, or mould, in or upon which there is
made or impressed, or which will make or impress, or which is
adapted and intended to make or impress, the figure, stamp, or
apparent resemblance of both or either of the sides of any current
gold or silver coin, or any part or parts of both or either of such
sides; or who makes or mends or begins or proceeds to make or
mend, or buys or sells or has in his custody or possession, any
edger, edging or other tool, collar, instrument or engine adapted
and intended for the marking of coin round the edges with letters,
grainings, or other marks or figures apparently resembling those
on the edges of any such coin as mentioned above in this section,
knowing the same to be so adapted and intended as aforesaid; or
who makes or mends or begins or proceeds to make or mend, or
who buys or sells or has in his custody or possession, any press for
coinage, or any cutting engine for cutting, by force of a screw or
any other contrivance, round blanks out of gold, silver, or other
metal, or mixture of metals, or any other machine, knowing such
press to be a press for coinage, or knowing such engine or machine
to have been used or to be intended to be used for or in order to the
false making or counterfeiting of any such coin as mentioned above
in this section, is liable to imprisonment for ten years.
22. Where any coin is tendered as current gold or silver coin
to any person who suspects the same to be diminished otherwise
than by reasonable wearing, or to be counterfeit, such person may
cut, break, bend, or deface such coin, and if any coin so cut, broken,
bent, or defaced appears to be diminished otherwise than by
reasonable wearing, or to be counterfeit, the person tendering the
Making,
mending, or
having
possession of
any coining
tools, arrestable
offence.
[45 of 1979].
Coin suspected
to be diminished
or counterfeit
may be cut by
any person to
whom it is
tendered.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
12 Chap. 11:15 Coinage Offences
same shall bear the loss thereof; but if the same shall be of due
weight and appears to be lawful coin, the person cutting, breaking,
bending, or defacing the same is hereby required to receive the
same at the rate it was coined for; and if any dispute arises whether
the coin so cut, broken, bent, or defaced is diminished in the manner
aforesaid, or counterfeit, it shall be heard and finally determined
in a summary manner by a Magistrate who is hereby empowered
to examine on oath as well the parties as any other person, in order
to determine the dispute.
23. (1) If any person finds or discovers in any place
whatsoever, or in the custody or possession of any person having
the same without lawful authority or excuse, any false or counterfeit
coin resembling or apparently intended to resemble or pass for
any current gold, silver, or copper coin, or any instrument, tool, or
engine whatsoever adapted and intended for the counterfeiting of
any such coin, or any filings or clippings, or any gold or silver
bullion, or any gold or silver in dust, solution, or otherwise which
has been produced or obtained by diminishing or lightening any
current gold or silver coin, it shall be lawful for the person so
finding or discovering, and he is hereby required, to seize the same,
and to carry the same forthwith before a Magistrate.
(2) Where it is proved, on the oath of a credible witness
before any Magistrate, that there is reasonable cause to suspect
that any person has been concerned in counterfeiting current gold,
silver, or copper coin, or has in his custody or possession any such
false or counterfeit coin, or any instrument, tool, or engine
whatsoever adapted and intended for the making or counterfeiting
of any such coin, or any other machine used or intended to be used
for making or counterfeiting any such coin, or any such filings,
clippings, or bullion, or any such gold or silver in dust, solution,
or otherwise as mentioned above, a Magistrate may, by warrant
under his hand, cause any place whatsoever belonging to or in the
occupation or under the control of such suspected person to be
searched, either in the day or in the night, and if any such false or
counterfeit coin, or any such instrument, tool, or engine, or any
Provision for the
discovery and
seizure of
counterfeit coin
and coining
tools, for
securing them as
evidence, and
for ultimately
disposing of
them.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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L.R.O.
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Coinage Offences Chap. 11:15 13
such machine, or any such filings, clippings, or bullion, or any
such gold or silver in dust, solution, or otherwise as aforesaid, is
found in any place so searched, cause the same to be seized and
carried forthwith before a Magistrate.
(3) Whensoever any such false or counterfeit coin or any
such instrument, tool, or engine, or any such machine or any
such filings, clippings, or bullion, or any such gold or silver in
dust, solution, or otherwise as aforesaid, is in any case whatsoever
seized and carried before a Magistrate, he shall, if necessary,
cause the same to be secured for the purpose of being produced
in evidence against any person who may be prosecuted for any
offence against this Act.
(4) All such false and counterfeit coin, and all instruments,
tools, and engines adapted and intended for the making or
counterfeiting of coin, and all such machines, and all such filings,
clippings, and bullion, and all such gold and silver in dust, solution,
or otherwise as mentioned above, after they have been produced
in evidence, or when they have been seized, and are not required
to be produced in evidence, shall forthwith be delivered up to the
Commissioner of Police, or to any person authorised by him to
receive the same.
24. Where, upon the trial of any person charged with any
offence against this Act, it is necessary to prove that any coin
produced in evidence against such person is false or counterfeit, it
shall be sufficient to prove the same to be false or counterfeit by
the evidence of any credible witness.
25. Every offence of falsely making or counterfeiting any coin,
or of buying, selling, receiving, paying, tendering, uttering, or
putting off, or of offering to buy, sell, receive, pay, utter, or put off,
any false or counterfeit coin, against the provisions of this Act,
shall be deemed to be complete, although the coin so made or
counterfeited, or bought, sold, received, paid, tendered, uttered, or
put off, or offered to be bought, sold, received, paid, uttered, or
put off, is not in a fit state to be uttered, or the counterfeiting thereof
is not finished or perfected.
What shall be
sufficient proof
of coin being
counterfeit.
Where the
counterfeiting
coin shall be
complete.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
14 Chap. 11:15 Coinage Offences
Any person may
apprehend
offenders
against this Act.
26. Any person may apprehend without warrant anyone found
committing any offence against this Act, and may convey or deliver
him to any member of the Police Service for the purpose of his
being conveyed as soon as reasonably may be before a Magistrate
to be dealt with according to law.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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