Legal Definitions - de falso moneta

De falso moneta is a historical legal term originating from Law Latin, meaning "of false money." It refers to a specific statute enacted in medieval England during the reign of King Edward I. This law was designed to protect the integrity of the English currency by prohibiting the importation of certain types of foreign coins that were considered debased or counterfeit, specifically known as "pollards" and "crokards." The penalties for violating this statute were exceptionally severe, including the forfeiture of all goods and the loss of one's life.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of de falso moneta:

• Imagine a merchant in the late 13th century, returning to England from a trading journey in continental Europe. Unbeknownst to him, a significant portion of the payment he received for his goods was in "pollards," a type of foreign coin that had been intentionally debased with less precious metal than its face value suggested. Upon his arrival at an English port, customs officials discover these prohibited coins among his possessions. Under the statute of de falso moneta, the merchant would face the forfeiture of all his legitimate goods and, tragically, the death penalty, even if he was unaware of the coins' illicit nature or their prohibition.

• Consider a group of individuals in the 1290s who deliberately organized a scheme to smuggle large quantities of "crokards" – another type of debased foreign coin – across the English Channel. Their intention was to circulate these coins within England, hoping to profit from the difference in their actual metallic value versus their perceived value. If caught, their actions would fall directly under the purview of de falso moneta, resulting in the confiscation of their entire cargo and the imposition of the death penalty for all involved in the conspiracy.

• Picture a money changer operating near a busy market town in medieval England. He is known to exchange various foreign currencies for English sterling. If, in the course of his business, he were found to be regularly importing and dealing in "pollards" or "crokards," even if he claimed to be merely facilitating trade, his activities would be deemed a violation of the de falso moneta statute. The law was so strict that simply bringing these specific "false monies" into the country, regardless of intent to counterfeit, was a capital offense, leading to the loss of his business, his goods, and his life.