Section 28: Meaning of "counterfeit".

Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 · 1981 c. 45View on legislation.gov.uk

Part II: Counterfeiting and Kindred Offences

For the purposes of this Part of this Act a thing is a counterfeit of a currency note or of a protected coin—

if it is not a currency note or a protected coin but resembles a currency note or protected coin (whether on one side only or on both) to such an extent that it is reasonably capable of passing for a currency note or protected coin of that description; or
if it is a currency note or protected coin which has been so altered that it is reasonably capable of passing for a currency note or protected coin of some other description.

For the purpose of this Part of this Act—

a thing consisting of one side only of a currency note, with or without the addition of other material is a counterfeit of such a note;
a thing consisting—
of parts of two or more currency notes; or
of parts of a currency note, or of parts of two or more currency notes, with the additon of other material,

is capable of being a counterfeit of a currency note.

References in this Part of this Act to passing or tendering a counterfeit of a currency note or a protected coin are not to be construed as confined to passing or tendering it as legal tender.

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Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.