Using Pictures of US Paper Money

Reproduction of US currency in color or black and white is permitted as long as the reproductions are less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half the size of the original and one-sided. Size restrictions apply whether using the whole or a portion of any bill. Additionally, care must be taken to dispose of negatives, scans, or other materials used in creating the reproductions.

Authority: 18 UNITED STATES CODE; 504: Treasury Directive Number 15-56 FR 48539 (September 15,1993) 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 publication, of color illustrations of U.S. currency provided that:

1. The illustration must 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 illustration must be one sided; and

3. All negatives, plates, 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 after their final use in accordance with this section.

Reference: http://www.bep.treas.gov/fact28.htm and http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/index.htm?money_illustrations.htm&1

The information on this page is based on information presented on the government Web site referenced above at the time this article was placed online. Check the site (http://www.ustreas.gov/) for updates and changes to the law prior to relying on the information presented here.