# 60 FR 32929: Color Illustrations of U.S. Currency > Federal · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_95-15523 ## Section - **Citation:** 60 FR 32929 - **Heading:** Color Illustrations of U.S. Currency - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Federal Register / Vol. 60 / 60 FR 32929 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Secret Service 31 CFR Part 411 [1505-AA69] Color Illustrations of U.S. Currency AGENCY: Secret Service, Treasury. ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Counterfeit Deterrence Act of 1992, the Secret Service proposes to permit color illustrations of United States currency. Currently, color illustrations of U.S. currency are not permitted. The intended effect of the proposed rule is to permit color illustrations of U.S. currency while maintaining the safeguards needed to prevent the counterfeiting of United States currency. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 25, 1995. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be forwarded to John J. Kelleher, Chief Counsel, United States Secret Service, 1800 G Street, NW., Room 842, Washington, DC 20223. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Mulligan, Attorney/Advisor, Office of Chief Counsel, U.S. Secret Service, 1800 G Street, NW., Room 842, Washington, DC 20223, (202) 435-5771. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Currently, illustrations of U.S. currency are permitted provided the illustration is in black and white and is of a size less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half, in linear dimension, of each part so illustrated, and provided the negatives and plates used in making the illustration are destroyed. 18 U.S.C. 504. The Counterfeit Deterrence Act of 1992, Pub. L. No. 102-550 (1992), amended 18 U.S.C. 504 by requiring ``[t]he Secretary of the Treasury [to] prescribe regulations to permit color illustrations of such currency of the United States as the Secretary determines may be appropriate for such purposes.'' Treasury Directive Number 15-56, 58 FR 48539 (September 16, 1993), delegated the responsibility and authority to prescribe these regulations to the Director, United States Secret Service. The proposed rule would allow the color illustration of U.S. currency to permit color illustrations of such currency of the United States as the Secretary determines may be appropriate for such purposes.'' Treasury Directive Number 15-56, 58 FR 48539 (September 16, 1993), delegated the responsibility and authority to prescribe these regulations to the Director, United States Secret Service. The proposed rule would allow the color illustration of U.S. currency. In developing this proposal, the Secret Service carefully weighed the interest in color illustrations with the federal government's compelling interest of preventing the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. The proposed rule is designed to allow the color illustration of U.S. currency in a manner which both prevents the possibility of these color illustrations being used as instruments of fraud and avoids the creation of conditions which may facilitate counterfeiting. In addition, the proposal recognizes technological advances in both computer graphics and other reprographics and requires that such methods comply with the requirements of the proposed rule. The proposed rule would require the permitted color illustrations to comply with the current size restrictions set out in 18 U.S.C. 504. Any color illustration permitted under the proposed rule would also be required to have the term ``non-negotiable'' be prominently and conspicuously placed across the center portion of any illustration. In addition, the legend ``non-negotiable'' would be required to appear in clearly legible, bold, black, block letters, being a minimum of one quarter inch high, and covering at least one third of the linear length of the illustration. The legend ``non-negotiable'' must appear simultaneously with the creation, production, printing, publishing and transmission of the illustration on all copies of the illustration or any part thereof, and on all negatives, plates, positives, digitized storage medium, graphic files, magnetic medium, optical storage devices, or other reproductive method f the linear length of the illustration. The legend ``non-negotiable'' must appear simultaneously with the creation, production, printing, publishing and transmission of the illustration on all copies of the illustration or any part thereof, and on all negatives, plates, positives, digitized storage medium, graphic files, magnetic medium, optical storage devices, or other reproductive method. In addition, such color illustrations would be required to be only one-sided. The exceptions proposed by this rule, like the exceptions set out in 18 U.S.C. 504, apply notwithstanding any other provision of chapter 25 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code. It should specifically be noted that the requirement that the term ``non-negotiable'' appear simultaneously with the creation, production, printing, publishing and transmission of the illustration on all copies of the illustration or any part thereof, and on all negatives, plates, positives, digitized storage medium, graphic files, magnetic medium, optical storage devices, or other reproductive method does not waive or repeal the prohibition in 18 U.S.C. 333 against the mutilation or disfiguring of currency with the intent to render such currency unfit to be reissued. Also, the criminal liability imposed by 18 U.S.C. 474 and other applicable sections of chapter 25 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code could apply where a color illustration of U.S. currency fails to meet the requirements imposed by this proposed regulation. Executive Order 12866 It has been determined that this document is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. This proposed rule is intended to permit the color illustrations of certain U.S. currency, which at the present time are prohibited by law. Regulatory Flexibility Act ustration of U.S. currency fails to meet the requirements imposed by this proposed regulation. Executive Order 12866 It has been determined that this document is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. This proposed rule is intended to permit the color illustrations of certain U.S. currency, which at the present time are prohibited by law. Regulatory Flexibility Act Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and for the reasons set forth above, it is hereby certified that this regulation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required. List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 411 Color illustration, Currency. For the reasons set out in the preamble, it is proposed that title 31, chapter IV of the Code of Federal Regulations be amended by adding part 411 as set forth below. PART 411--COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS OF UNITED STATES CURRENCY Authority: 18 U.S.C. 504; Treasury Directive Number 15-56, 58 FR 48539 (Sept. 16, 1993) Sec. 411.1 Color illustrations authorized. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 25 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code, authority is hereby given for the printing, publishing or importation, or the making or importation of the necessary plates or items for such printing or publishing, of color illustrations of U.S. currency provided that: (1) The illustration be of a size less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half, in linear dimension, of each part of any matter so illustrated; 8 of the U.S. Code, authority is hereby given for the printing, publishing or importation, or the making or importation of the necessary plates or items for such printing or publishing, of color illustrations of U.S. currency provided that: (1) The illustration be of a size less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half, in linear dimension, of each part of any matter so illustrated; (2) The term ``non-negotiable'' be placed on any illustration in clearly legible, bold, black, block letters, being a minimum of one quarter inch high, and prominently and conspicuously placed across the center portion of any illustration, covering at least one third of the linear length of the illustration. The term ``non- negotiable'' must appear simultaneously with the creation, production, printing, publishing and transmission of the illustration on all copies of the illustration or any part thereof and on all negatives, plates, positives, digitized storage medium, graphic files, magnetic medium, optical storage devices, or other reproductive method; (3) The illustration be one-sided; and (4) All negatives, plates, positives, digitized storage medium, graphic files, magnetic medium, optical storage devices, and any other thing used in the making of the illustration that contain an image of the illustration or any part thereof shall be destroyed and/or deleted or erased immediately after their final use in accordance with this section. (b) [Reserved] Paul A. Hackenberry, Assistant Director, Office of Investigations. 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