Comments on: Bad Idea Jeans

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Wed, 30 May 2007 05:27:53 +0000

I think they actually probably could *sell* the quarters as collectibles, but what they meant to do was put them back in *circulation*, which would be a problem.

Even after this news story, the facts are still a little opaque to me, and Iâ€™d like to see an authoritative legal lowdown on this.

US Federal Law

Â§ 475. Imitating obligations or securities; advertisements

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 or 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.

This is clearly attaching an advertisement to a coin of the United States, right?

By: Flush it all away

Flush it all away — Tue, 29 May 2007 23:42:44 +0000

"In Galactus We Trust" would be awesome. Nuff said.

By: Adam Jones

Adam Jones — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:10:54 +0000

OK, we can now add "controversy" to this....

The Mint is PISSED

By: Ben Herman

Ben Herman — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:39:51 +0000

The front of the quarters ought to read "In Galactus we trust."

By: suedenim

suedenim — Tue, 29 May 2007 13:56:38 +0000

I think they actually probably could *sell* the quarters as collectibles, but what they meant to do was put them back in *circulation*, which would be a problem.

Even after this news story, the facts are still a little opaque to me, and I'd like to see an authoritative legal lowdown on this.

By: layne

layne — Tue, 29 May 2007 03:07:51 +0000

I'm currently selling Invisible Woman-themed hundred dollar bills on eBay for the low, low price of $20 a pop. No pushing kids, there's enough for everyone!

(Please make your cheques out to "Cash". TIA!)

By: Flush it all away

Flush it all away — Mon, 28 May 2007 22:58:59 +0000

I still think it's a very cool and original idea.

Now, add "controversy" to it, and you've got some genuine buzz.

Now they just need to figure out how to print Mr. Fantastic on rubber bands, Human Torch on briquettes and Galactus on clouds.

By: sgt pepper

sgt pepper — Mon, 28 May 2007 22:30:56 +0000

Ah, SNL in the 90s.

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Mon, 28 May 2007 21:55:21 +0000

To be fair, Adam, they are not selling these. They're giving them away, as part of a promotion for the Fantastic Four movie.

By: Adam Jones

Adam Jones — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:05:15 +0000

Yipes. Just yipes.

Do you think anyone who buys these is cognisant of how bad they've really got it?

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Mon, 28 May 2007 18:50:33 +0000

For the first, technically you canâ€¦itâ€™s like those hideously painted States quarters you can buyâ€¦also from the Franklin Mint

Not advertisements. That's the problem here. It's an ad. They'll let you do decorative stuff, but the US isn't going to allow anyone to turn currency into an advertisement!

By: Evan Waters

Evan Waters — Mon, 28 May 2007 15:17:41 +0000

You see, I assumed they'd gotten the permission of the U.S. Mint beforehand. I obviously gave them too much credit.

By: Scavenger

Scavenger — Mon, 28 May 2007 11:21:59 +0000

Can't as in legally or can't as in it's a moral imperative?

For the first, technically you can...it's like those hideously painted States quarters you can buy...also from the Franklin Mint