Legal Definitions - falsa moneta

Falsa moneta is a Latin term originating from Roman law that refers to money that has been illegally manufactured, altered, or debased with the intent to deceive. In modern terms, it directly translates to counterfeit money.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Large-Scale Counterfeiting Operation

  A criminal organization establishes a clandestine printing facility dedicated to producing high-quality fake euro banknotes. They then attempt to circulate these fraudulent notes through various illicit channels, introducing them into the legitimate financial system.

  This scenario clearly demonstrates falsa moneta because the organization is creating currency that is not genuine, with the explicit purpose of defrauding individuals and institutions by passing off these fakes as real money.

• Example 2: Debased Currency in Ancient Times

  During the Roman Empire, a dishonest merchant might subtly shave small amounts of precious metal from the edges of genuine silver denarii (coins) and then attempt to spend these slightly lighter, debased coins as if they were still full-value currency.

  Even though the coins originated as genuine, the act of illegally altering them to reduce their intrinsic value while presenting them as original constitutes falsa moneta, as it involves deception regarding the true worth of the currency.

• Example 3: Passing a Single Counterfeit Bill

  An individual attempts to pay for a meal at a restaurant using a twenty-dollar bill that they know is a fake, hoping the server will not detect the counterfeit nature of the currency.

  This is a direct instance of falsa moneta because the person is knowingly using a non-genuine piece of currency as if it were legitimate, intending to acquire goods or services through fraudulent means.