Since the election, a small cottage industry of Obama memorabilia has sprung up. You can get just about anything with Obama’s image on it (and I mean just about anything).

One set of items I’ve seen is United States coins that have been painted with the One’s likeness. For $70, Home Shopping Network has the following available:

• 2007 George Washington Dollar colorized with the image of Barack Obama
• 1961 Franklin Silver Half Dollar colorized with the image of Barack Obama
• 2009 District of Columbia Quarter colorized with the image of Barack Obama
• 2008 Hawaii State Quarter colorized with the image of Barack Obama
• 1999 Delaware State Quarter colorized with the image of Barack Obama and Joseph Biden

And then there’s the offer that’s been all over TV for $19.95: Four Special Edition Coins including real-life images capturing history on a Washington Dollar, a Kennedy Half Dollar, an Illinois Quarter and a Hawaii Quarter.

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 17 > § 331 of the United States Criminal Code states:

Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States; or

Whoever fraudulently possesses, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or brings into the United States, any such coin, knowing the same to be altered, defaced, mutilated, impaired, diminished, falsified, scaled, or lightened—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

It’s bad enough that Obama’s worshipers are defacing the United States flag. (Actually that’s worse than defacing money.) I don’t have any idea who’s producing these “special editions,” and I’m not a lawyer, but to me it looks like they’re committing a crime. And it’s possible that if you possess one of these defaced coins, you’re committing a crime as well.

Interestingly enough, there doesn’t appear to be any Bush coins made from defacing US currency. The only ones I could find during a quick Google search were coins specifically minted to commemorate his presidency or ones made to mock it.

I guess you’re really have to be an Obama fanboy to risk five years in the slammer to buy one of these things.

Where’s the Secret Service on this?