15 U.S.C. § 2101 — Marking requirements

(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 [ 15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.]. (b) Coins and other numismatic items The manufacture in the United States, or the importation into the United States, for introduction into or distribution in commerce, or the sale 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 [ 15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.]. (c) Rules and regulations The Federal Trade Commission must prescribe rules for determining the manner and form in which items described in subsection (a) or (b) must be permanently marked. (d) Provision of assistance or support It must be a violation of subsection (a) or (b) for a person to provide substantial assistance or support to any manufacturer, importer, or seller if that person knows or should have known that the manufacturer, importer, or seller is engaged in any act or practice that violates subsection (a) or (b). (e) Exemption Subsections (a) 1 (b), and (d), and regulations under subsection (c), must not apply to any common carrier or contract carrier or freight forwarder about an imitation political item or imitation numismatic item received, shipped, delivered, or handled by it for shipment in the ordinary course of its business.