It's legal to melt them down now. You can't deface U.S. currency to try to make it look like it's higher value, or to shave small amounts of metal to combine wi

It's legal to melt them down now. You can't deface U.S. currency to try to make it look like it's higher value, or to shave small amounts of metal to combine with other coins shavings to the point that they have value. As per [1]: > 18 U.S. Code § 331 > Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States; or The key word is "fraudulently", if you're doing it for art you're good. [1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/331#:~:text=§%20331-,18%20U.S.%20Code%20§%20331%20%2D%20Mutilation,diminution%2C%20and%20falsification%20of%20coins&text=Shall%20be%20fined%20under%20this,645%2C%2062%20Stat. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/331#:~:text=§%203...