Collector Fact Sheets

Celebrity Notes

Currency notes upon which the portraits of well-known personalities (such as Santa Claus and movie stars) are temporarily affixed, are for the most part found to be genuine United States currency. Private businesses produce these novelty items by purchasing new currency notes from banks and subsequently apply the picture of a well-known personality over the engraved portrait on the bill by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive. These businesses then charge their customers premium prices.

At least two statutes that may apply to celebrity notes are 18 U.S.C. §§ 333 and 475. 18 U.S.C. § 333 provides: “Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, with the intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.”

Additionally, 18 U.S.C. § 475 subjects to punishment anyone who “writes, prints, or otherwise impresses upon or attaches to any such instrument, obligation, or security, or any coin of the United States, any business or professional card, notice, or advertisement, or any notice or advertisement whatever . . . .” The prohibition contained in section 475 may apply when a “celebrity note” is being used as a form of commercial advertising.

A determination of the legality of any particular celebrity note is a matter within the authority of the Department of Justice.