Engraving Coins

[Joe Cacher]

I've found a coin that I'd like to use as a signature item. It's expensive but cheaper than making your own. What I'd like to do is have it engraved with my caching name.

 

Is that legal on coins like this?

 

[+Birders]

Think you'll be in serious trouble if you have a coin made with HM's face on the back. However, there is nothing to stop you have "medals" made with your own designs on them...

[SlytherinAlex]

Change your caching name to Snoopy and you don't have to do any engraving.

 

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Edited May 27, 2005 by SlytherinAlex

[+lordelph]

I misread the edge of the coin as "ELIZABETH II NUDE 2001"

 

**shudder**

[+Alibags]

I think it's illegal to deface current coins that are legal tender in the UK. I do not think this applies to foreign currency or old coins that are no longer legal tender. It's not so much defacing something that bears an image of the queen as interfering with currency.

 

Getting special coins made for yourself can be costly, so using an existing coin or token may be an alternative. Have you considered putting the coin into a small ziplock bag with a card in it bearing your sig, etc? Or perhaps gluing the coin to a calling card, Snoopy side up? Don't try to put the card with coin though a laminator though as this will break them (mentioning no names, but you know who you are!! )

 

BTW when the 'new' 5p coins came out a few years back, I thought they were so small and diddy that I drilled a hole in two of them and wore them as earrings. The coin police did not leap out from behind a lamp post and get me, so I reckon you will be okay in any case! Smashing Pennies are not illegal, are they?

[+Mad H@ter]

You do get machines at tourist attractions (have seen them at LegoLand) where you put in a penny and it represses it into a commemorative token, completely removing all the original markings. This would indicate that it is probably OK to deface it in such a way.

[+Alibags]

You do get machines at tourist attractions (have seen them at LegoLand) where you put in a penny and it represses it into a commemorative token, completely removing all the original markings. This would indicate that it is probably OK to deface it in such a way.

er, you mean like 'smashing pennies' ? Although to be fair, I think that may actually be a company and not a generic name.

[+Archer4]

You do get machines at tourist attractions (have seen them at LegoLand) where you put in a penny and it represses it into a commemorative token, completely removing all the original markings. This would indicate that it is probably OK to deface it in such a way.

The last one of these we used had a plaque on stating that the bloggins act of year whatever had been repealed in year something else so the theoretical offence didn't exist anymore anyway. The defence rests your honour

[+Pengy&Tigger]

You do get machines at tourist attractions

You can log 'em here.

 

T

[+Mad H@ter]

You do get machines at tourist attractions (have seen them at LegoLand) where you put in a penny and it represses it into a commemorative token, completely removing all the original markings. This would indicate that it is probably OK to deface it in such a way.

er, you mean like 'smashing pennies' ? Although to be fair, I think that may actually be a company and not a generic name.

Wondered what you was on about

[Joe Cacher]

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking of engraving the Doghouse. Or is it a Sopwith Camel?

[+-Phoenix-]

You do get machines at tourist attractions (have seen them at LegoLand) where you put in a penny and it represses it into a commemorative token, completely removing all the original markings. This would indicate that it is probably OK to deface it in such a way.

Wrong, it is not OK, and these machines should not be used to deface legal tender.

 

When you do see these machines in the UK, they are supposed to supply you with tokens to 'deface', however, as we all know, they are used on actual legal tender.

[+Sensei TSKC]

I think it's illegal to deface current coins that are legal tender in the UK. I do not think this applies to foreign currency or old coins that are no longer legal tender. It's not so much defacing something that bears an image of the queen as interfering with currency.

 

Getting special coins made for yourself can be costly, so using an existing coin or token may be an alternative. Have you considered putting the coin into a small ziplock bag with a card in it bearing your sig, etc? Or perhaps gluing the coin to a calling card, Snoopy side up? Don't try to put the card with coin though a laminator though as this will break them (mentioning no names, but you know who you are!! )

 

BTW when the 'new' 5p coins came out a few years back, I thought they were so small and diddy that I drilled a hole in two of them and wore them as earrings. The coin police did not leap out from behind a lamp post and get me, so I reckon you will be okay in any case! Smashing Pennies are not illegal, are they?

We are watching and waiting for you to upgrade to 50p ones!

 

You'll get shot for £1 and £2 coins though!

[+Cryptik Souls Crew]

You do get machines at tourist attractions (have seen them at LegoLand) where you put in a penny and it represses it into a commemorative token, completely removing all the original markings. This would indicate that it is probably OK to deface it in such a way.

The last one of these we used had a plaque on stating that the bloggins act of year whatever had been repealed in year something else so the theoretical offence didn't exist anymore anyway. The defence rests your honour

To fill in a few blanks, the Coinage Offences act of 1936 was the piece of legislation which prohibited, amongst other things, the defacing of any current coin. This was repealed in its entirety by the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act of 1981.

 

You earned your money, do what you want with it!