Mutilated Currency and Coin

Currency Procedures

What Is Mutilated Currency?

A currency note which is clearly not more than one-half of the original note and/or are in such condition that the value is questionable and special examination is required to determine its value are considered mutilated currency.

Any badly soiled, dirty, defaced, disintegrated, limp, torn, or worn out currency note that is clearly more than one-half of the original note, and does not require special examination to determine its value is not considered mutilated. These notes should be exchanged through a depository institution and processed by the Federal Reserve Bank.

Currency can become mutilated in any number of ways. The most common causes are fire, water, chemicals, explosives; animal, insect or rodent damage; and petrification or deterioration by burying.

Under regulations issued by the Department of the Treasury, mutilated United States currency may be exchanged at face value if:

More than 50% of a note identifiable as United States currency is present

– OR –

50% or less of a note identifiable as United States currency is present and the method of mutilation and supporting evidence demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Treasury that the missing portions have been totally destroyed.

For more information on how to handle and ship mutilated currency, please refer to the procedures at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving Web site (Off-site Link).

Coin Procedures

Coins that are chipped, fused, melted, distorted, or not machine-countable are considered mutilated. Only the United States Mint redeems mutilated coins at the value of their metal content. Mutilated coin should be forwarded via 'Registered Mail, Return Receipt Requested' to the address below with documentation of the circumstances:

Superintendent
United States Mint
P.O. Box 400
Philadelphia, PA 19105
(215) 408-0203

For more information about FedCash® Services processing and operations, visit the service offerings page or consult your local FedCash Services contact.

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