Printed illustrations of paper money, checks, bonds, and other obligations and securities of the United States and foreign governments are allowed for educational, historical, and newsworthy purposes. Illustrations must be in black and white and must be less than 3/4 or more than 1 1/2 times the size of the genuine original. No individual facsimiles of such obligations are permitted, and no illustrations of paper money, checks, or bonds may be in color.

To be permissible, an illustration must be accompanied by educational, historical, or newsworthy information relating directly to the item that is illustrated. Illustrations used primarily for decorative or eye-catching purposes are not allowed.

Motion-picture film and slides of paper money, checks, bonds and other obligations and securities of the United States and foreign governments are permitted in black and white or in color for projection upon a screen or for use in telecasting. Treasury regulations permit the illustration of United States bonds in connection with a campaign for the sale of such bonds.

United States and Foreign Postage Stamps

Printed illustrations of canceled and uncanceled United States postage stamps are permissible for articles, books, journals, newspapers, educational, historical, and newsworthy purposes.

Black-and-white illustrations may be of any size. Colored illustrations of canceled United States postage stamps may be of any size. However, illustrations in color of uncanceled United States postage stamps must be less than 3/4 or more than 1 1/2 times the size of the genuine stamp.

Printed illustrations of canceled foreign stamps in black and white or color are permissible in any size and for any purpose.

Black-and-white and color illustrations of uncanceled foreign postage stamps are permitted for educational, historical and newsworthy purposes,

Black-and-white illustrations may be of any size, but color illustrations must be less than 3/4 or more than 1 1/2 times the size of the genuine stamp.

Motion picture films and slides of the United States and foreign postage stamps are permissible in black and white or in color for projection upon a screen or for use in telecasting.

Revenue Stamps

Regulations for printed illustrations of United States and foreign revenue stamps are the same as for postage stamps, except colored illustrations of United States revenue stamps are not permitted.

Coins

Photographs or printed illustrations, motion-picture film or slides of the United States and foreign coins may be used for any purpose.

With few exceptions, existing law generally prohibits the manufacture, sale or use of any token, disk, or device in the likeness or similitude of any coins of the United States or of any foreign country that are issued as money.

Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 481

Whoever, except by lawful authority as described in the foregoing, prints photographs, or makes, executes, or sells any engraving, photograph, print, or impression in the likeness of any genuine note, bond, obligation, or other security, or any part thereof, of any foreign government, bank, or corporation, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

Destruction of Prints and Negatives

The negatives and prints of any United States obligation or foreign obligations produced for any of the purposes mentioned previously in this chapter must be destroyed after their final use.