COUNTERFEITING OF CURRENCY AND STAMPED EFFECTS

Arts. 386 to 389 of the Criminal Code regulate the counterfeiting of currency and stamped effects. The basic criminal modality punishes, with a prison sentence of 8 to 12 years and a fine of one to ten times the apparent value of the currency, the alteration of currency and the manufacture of counterfeit currency, as well as the export, import and distribution of altered or counterfeit currency. In addition, the person who has received a good counterfeit coin and, despite knowing its falsity, distributes it, shall be punished with imprisonment of 3 to 6 months or a fine of 6 to 24 months.

This crime may be committed by legal entities, in which case the penalty imposed will be a fine of three to ten times the apparent value of the currency, and the judge may also impose the penalties of dissolution, suspension of activities, closure of premises, prohibition of future activities, special disqualification from obtaining subsidies and public aid and judicial intervention.

On the other hand, Article 389 of the Penal Code punishes the forgery or issuance of postage stamps or stamped effects, or their introduction into Spain knowing them to be false, with a prison sentence of 6 months to 3 years.