---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 478"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "478"
heading: "Foreign obligations or securities"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/478"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 25 — Counterfeiting and Forgery"
---

# §478. Foreign obligations or securities


Whoever, within the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), with intent to defraud, falsely makes, alters, forges, or counterfeits any bond, certificate, obligation, or other security of any [foreign government](/usc/18/11.md), purporting to be or in imitation of any such security issued under the authority of such [foreign government](/usc/18/11.md), or any treasury note, bill, or promise to pay, lawfully issued by such [foreign government](/usc/18/11.md) and intended to circulate as money, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 707; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 375(a), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 341.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 270 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 156, 35 Stat. 1117).

Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title.

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Changes were also made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2001—Pub. L. 107–56 substituted “20 years” for “five years”.

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.