Article 170
Whoever counterfeits currency shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than ten years, and concurrently be sentenced to a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan and not more than 500,000 yuan. Any of the following categories of persons shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years, life imprisonment or death, and concurrently be sentenced to a fine of not less less than 50,000 yuan and not more than 500,000 yuan or confiscation of property: (1) those principal criminals of a currency counterfeit group; (2) those with an especially huge amount of counterfeited currency; or (3) those with other especially serious circumstances.
Article 171
Whoever sells or purchases counterfeited currency or transports knowingly counterfeited currency shall, if the amount involved is relatively huge, be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention, and concurrently be sentenced to a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan and not more than 200,000 yuan. If the amount involved is huge, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than ten years, and concurrently be sentenced to a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan and not more than 500,000 yuan. If the amount involved is especially huge, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years or life imprisonment, and concurrently be sentenced to a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan and not more than 500,000 yuan or confiscation of property. Whoever from the staff of a bank or other financial institution purchases counterfeited currency or takes advantage of his position to exchange currency with counterfeited currency shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than ten years, and concurrently be sentenced to a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan and not more than 200,000 yuan. If the amount involved is especially huge or there are other serious circumstances, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years or life imprisonment, and concurrently be sentenced to a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan and not more than 200,000 yuan or confiscation of property. If the circumstances are relatively minor, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention, and concurrently or independently be sentenced to a fine of not less than 10,000 yuan and not more than 100,000 yuan. Whoever counterfeits currency and sells or transports the counterfeited currency shall be decided a crime and given a heavier punishment according to the provisions of Article 170 of this Law.
Article 172
Whoever holds or uses knowingly counterfeited currency shall, if the amount involved is relatively huge, be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention, and concurrently or independently be sentenced to a fine of not less than 10,000 yuan and not more than 100,000 yuan. If the amount involved is huge, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than ten years, and concurrently sentenced to a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan and not more than 200,000 yuan. If the amount involved is especially huge, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years, and concurrently be sentenced to a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan and not more than 500,000 yuan or confiscation of property.
Article 173
Whoever alters currency shall, if the amount involved is relatively huge, be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention, and concurrently or independently be sentenced to a fine of not less than 10,000 yuan and not more than 100,000 yuan. If the amount involved is huge, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than ten years, and concurrently be sentenced to a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan and not more than 200,000 yuan.
