Adulteration
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
in criminal law, is a general term for rendering the public coin of less value than it ought to be; which comprehends debasing the coin, by the admixture of improper metals, or the use of any undue alloy, &c. and counterevting the coin, which is forging a stamp to resemble the true coin upon baser metal. This is always done with a fraudulent purpose and is punishable by fine and imprisonment.