An Act to require that reproductions and imitations of coins and political items be marked as copies or with the date of manufacture.
PL 93-167 (H.R.5777), enacted 11/29/1973

686 
PUBLIC LAW 93-167-NOV. 29, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Citation of 
title. 
units at Fort DeRussy, Hawaii, at any location other than Fort 
DeRussy. 
SEC. 704. This title may be cited as the "Reserve Forces Facilities 
Authorization Act, 1974".' 
Approved November 29, 1973. 
November 29, 1973 
[H. R. 5777] 
Public Law 93-167 
AN ACT 
To require that reproductions and imitations of coins and political items be 
marked as copies or with the date of manufacture. 
Hobby Protec-
tion Act. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled^ That this Act may 
be cited as the "Hobby Protection Act". 
38 Stat. 717. 
15 use 58. 
MARKING REQUIREMENTS 
SEC. 2. (a) POLITICAL ITEMS.—The manufacture in the United States, 
or the importation into the United States, for introduction into or 
distribution in commerce of any imitation political item which is not 
plainly and permanently marked with the calendar year in which such 
item was manufactured, is unlawful and is an unfair or deceptive act 
or practice in commerce under the Federal Trade Commission Act. 
(b) COINS AND OTHER NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—The manufacture in the 
United States, or the importation into the United States, for introduc-
tion into or distribution in commerce of any imitation numismatic item 
which is not plainly and permanently marked "copy", is unlawful and 
is an unfair or deceptive act or practice in commerce under the Federal 
Trade Commission Act. 
(c) REGULATIONS.—The Federal Trade Commission shall prescribe 
i-ules for determining the manner and form in which items described 
in subsection (a) or (b) shall be permanently marked. 
(d) EXEMPTION.—Subsections (a) and (b), and regulations under 
subsection (c), shall not apply to any common carrier or contract 
carrier or freight forwarder with respect to an imitation political item 
or imitation numismatic item received, shipped, delivered, or handled 
by it for shipment in the ordinary course of its business. 
PRIVATE E N F O R C E M E N T 
SEC. 3. If any person violates section 2 (a) or (b) or a rule under 
section 2(c), any interested person may commence a civil action for 
injunctive relief restraining such violation, and for damages, in any 
United States District Court for a district in which the defendant 
lesides or has an agent. In any such action, the court may award the 
costs of the suit, including reasonable attorneys" fees. 
E N F O R C E M E N T B Y FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 
SEC. 4. (a) Except as provided in section 3, this Act shall be enforced 
by the Federal Trade Commission under the Federal Trade Commis-
sion Act. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-167-NOV. 29, 1973 
687 
(b) .The Commission shall prevent any person from violating the 
provisions of this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and 
with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable 
terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act were 
incorporated into and made a part of this Act; and any such person 
violating the provisions of this Act shall be subject to the penalties 
and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in said Federal 
Trade Commission Act, in the same manner, by the same means, and 
with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though the applicable 
terms and provisions of the said Federal Trade Commission Act were 
incorporated into and made a part of this Act. 
IMPORTS 
SEC. 5. Any item imported into the United States in violation of 
section 2 (a) or (b) or regulations under section 2(c) shall be subject 
to seizure and forfeiture under the customs laws. 
APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW 
SEC. 6. The provisions of this Act are in addition to, and not in sub-
stitution for or limitation of, the provisions of any other law of the 
United States or of the law of any State. 
DEFINITIONS 
SEC. 7. For purposes of this Act: 
(1) The term "original political item" means any political button, 
poster, literature, sticker, or any advertisement produced for use in 
any political cause. 
(2) The term "imitation political item" means an item which pur-
ports to be, but in fact is not, an original political item, or which is a 
reproduction, copy, or counterfeit of an original political item. 
(3) The term "original numismatic item" means anything which 
has been a part of a coinage or issue which has been used in exchange 
-or has been used to commemorate a person or event. Such term includes 
coins, tokens, paper money, and commemorative medals, 
(4) The term "imitation numismatic item" means an item which 
purports to be, but in fact is not, an original numismatic item or which 
IS a reproduction, copy, or counterfeit of an original numismatic item. 
(5) The term "commerce" has the same meaning as such term has 
under the Federal Trade Commission Act. 
(6) The term "Commission" means the Federal Trade Commission, 
(7) The term "United States" means the States, the District of 
Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
SEC. 8. This Act shall apply only to imitation political items and 
imitation numismatic items inanufactured after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
Approved November 29, 1973.