Can a commercial product legally incorporate US coinage into the design?
Asked by
LuckyGuy (
43867
)
October 3rd, 2020
Here are two examples:
Can Penny loafer shoes be sold with pennies in them?
If the metallurgy and size is correct, can a penny be used as a 10,000 amp fuse in a special, scientific application.
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8 Answers
Sure, as long as it is known as legal coinage, there is nothing to stop soon from using coins in trying to sell something.
Companies have mailed pennies, nickels, and dimes for various promotions over the years. They used to say “use this nickel for a stamp to mail your order” or “use this dime to call us”.
A certain device I’m designing needs a disk of metal with a rim about the size and shape of a penny. Of course I can machine or stamp one out but the cost would be a lot higher than 1 cent. A penny would be perfect for the application.
If I don’t alter the penny in any way am I legal?
You making 10,000 Amp fuse replacements ? ?
@Tropical_Willie Relax, I’m not incorporating pennies into a 10,000 amp design – although I could. I was only giving that as an example. I actually want the penny for its rim, outer metal case and its physical size and strength.
And it only costs $0.01!
A new US penny weighs exactly 2.500 grams. And is precisely 0.75 inches in diameter and 1.52 mm thick. (Sorry for the mixed measuring systems, English, Metric, but that is how the US Mint specifies them.) 2.5% copper plated Zn.
It would cost a lot of money to make something like that yourself.
You just can’t damage or alter the coin.
You just can’t damage or alter the coin.
But you can totally melt it down.
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