DISTINCTIVE PAPER AND DISTINCTIVE COUNTERFEIT DETERRENTS FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL RESERVE NOTES

• Citation: 31 CFR Part 601
• Sections: 5

§ 601.1 Notice and scope.

The regulation in this part governs the distinctive paper and distinctive counterfeit deterrents adopted by the Secretary of the Treasury for United States Federal Reserve notes, which are subject to 18 U.S.C. 474A. The Director of Bureau of Engraving and Printing, by delegated authority, hereby gives notice of the distinctive paper and distinctive counterfeit deterrents adopted by the Secretary of the Treasury.

§ 601.2 Distinctiveness requirement.

(a) The Secretary of the Treasury has adopted distinctive paper and distinctive counterfeit deterrents:

(1) In which the United States has an exclusive property interest; or

(2) That are not otherwise in commercial use or the public domain and are necessary for preventing the counterfeiting of United States Federal Reserve notes.

(b) The distinctive paper and counterfeit deterrents are used in United States Federal Reserve notes.

§ 601.3 Distinctive paper.

The distinctive paper is a cream-white currency note paper with fibers, colored red and blue, evenly distributed throughout the currency note paper. The distinctive paper shall contain distinctive counterfeit deterrents in the currency note paper denominations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.

§ 601.4 Distinctive counterfeit deterrents.

The distinctive counterfeit deterrents that may be used in the denominations of United States Federal Reserve notes as prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury are:

(a) Security threads containing graphics consisting of the designation “USA” and the denomination of the currency note, expressed in alphabetic or numeric characters.

(b) Optically variable inks with material characteristics.

(c) Non-visual characteristic inks with material characteristics.

(d) Optically variable thread (three-dimensional (3-D) security ribbon and micro-optic stripe) visible in front or back of the currency note.

(e) Non-visual characteristic features with material characteristics.

§ 601.5 Penalty for Unauthorized Control or Possession.

(a) Control or possession of distinctive paper and/or distinctive counterfeit deterrents adopted in §§ 601.3 and 601.4 require authorization by the Secretary of the Treasury.

(b) The penalty for unauthorized control and/or possession of distinctive paper and/or distinctive counterfeit deterrents adopted in §§ 601.3 and 601.4 is found at 18 U.S.C. 474A.