Comments on: Best Advertising Money Can Buy

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:59:56 +0000

Actually, you should read it again. I actually know what I’m talking about.

Regardless of the “fit to be re-issued” argument, it is clearly illegal to advertise on currency. Section 475 (the link I posted) supersedes the defacement issue (Section 333 - the link you posted). You can write stuff on a bill, as long as it’s not “unfit to be re-issued.” But under no circumstances can anyone place advertisements on currency.

Section 475 has TWO parts — the first one is your interpretation, but you missed the second part at the bottom.

From the actual law:

Part I:
Whoever designs, engraves, prints, makes, or executes, or utters, issues, distributes, circulates, or uses any business or professional card, notice, placard, circular, handbill, or advertisement in the likeness or similitude of any obligation or security of the United States issued under or authorized by any Act of Congress

Part II:
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, shall be fined under this title.

It’s all right there — illegal to advertise on currency. Why do you think the Secret Service forced Where’s George? stop selling the rubber stamps? It was NOT because of the defacement issue (Section 333), but because it’s illegal to advertise on currency (Section 475). Otherwise, don’t you think all the big corporations would be doing it? That’s why it’s illegal.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:10:55 +0000

Actually it is not illegal to advertise provided the currency is still fit for distribution.

See: http://www.bep.treas.gov/document.cfm/18/104

AJ, the link you provided states that it is illegal to make advertisements that resemble or mimic U.S. currency or stamps, but says nothing about advertising on currency. Read it again.

By: AJ

AJ — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:23:51 +0000

It is actually illegal to advertise on currency:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/475.shtml

This is why Wheresgeorge.com was forced to stop selling rubber stamps with their URL on it.

Anyone who tries this might very well also get a visit from the Secret Service. You have been warned.

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:23:00 +0000

I am surprised that no large corporations have attempted to use currency as a means of advertising. This must be illegal at some level otherwise a huge corporation would have done it by now.

By: brian

brian — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:19:01 +0000

I tried advertising this way for a while but didn’t see quite the same type of traffic gains that I would see through advertising on social networking sites such as Digg and StumbleUpon.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:21:09 +0000

Just out of curiosity how many users can I expect to visit my site if I stamp 1000 bills? Do $1 bills have much better results than $100?

By: jason

jason — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 07:02:49 +0000

This works. A single dollar bill probably sees at least 10-30 people a day, hundreds of people a week, and thousands of people a year. A URL or phone number on a bill like this will give you tons of free advertising and a huge audience.

By: Evan

Evan — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:10:15 +0000

I wonder how well this would work?!? I usually ignore my money and probably wouldn’t even notice these stamps.

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:33:59 +0000

Actually it is not illegal in the United States to write or stamp money as long as it’s still fit for circulation.

This law applies to paper money, not coins.

Check out the U.S. Treasury department or the Federal Reserve websites.

It is illegal however in some countries like England and Singapore, but not in the United States.

By: Bubbles

Bubbles — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 06:05:09 +0000

Stamping your site url on MONEY - awesome idea!
Great post BTW
Agree with Deimos Tel’Arin
Entrecard is the Next Wave!