Section 230 IPC: “Coin” defined
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 230 IPC at a Glance
Section 230 IPC defines “Coin”. It is non-bailable and cognizable, triable by the Court of Session; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 178 BNS.
None of its own. Section 230 IPC defines coin and Indian coin, and the punishment is set by the offence sections of Chapter XII, such as Section 231 IPC on counterfeiting coin.
Section 230 IPC Bare Act Text
230. “Coin” defined
Coin is metal used for the time being as money, and stamped and issued by the authority of some State or Sovereign Power in order to be so used.
Indian coin.—Indian coin is metal stamped and issued by the authority of the Government of India in order to be used as money; and metal which has been so stamped and issued shall continue to be Indian coin for the purposes of this Chapter, notwithstanding that it may have ceased to be used as money.
Illustrations(a) Cowries are not coin.
(b) Lumps of unstamped copper, though used as money, are not coin.
(c) Medals are not coin, inasmuch as they are not intended to be used as money.
(d) The coin denominated as the Company's rupee is Indian coin.
(e) The "Farukhabad rupee", which was formerly used as money under the authority of the Government of India, is Indian coin although it is no longer so used.
Source: Section 230, Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 230 IPC in Simple Words
Section 230 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) defines the expressions coin and Indian coin for the offences in Chapter XII. Coin is metal used for the time being as money and stamped and issued by the authority of a State or Sovereign Power for that use.
Indian coin is such metal stamped and issued by the authority of the Government of India, and it stays Indian coin even after it stops being used as money. The section creates no offence and prescribes no punishment of its own.
Ingredients of Section 230 IPC
- Coin is metal used for the time being as money, and stamped and issued by the authority of some State or Sovereign Power in order to be so used
- Indian coin is metal stamped and issued by the authority of the Government of India in order to be used as money
- Metal so stamped and issued continues to be Indian coin for Chapter XII notwithstanding that it may have ceased to be used as money
- The Illustrations say that cowries, lumps of unstamped copper even if used as money, and medals are not coin, and that the Company rupee and the Farukhabad rupee are Indian coin
Punishment Under Section 230 IPC
None of its own. Section 230 IPC defines coin and Indian coin, and the punishment is set by the offence sections of Chapter XII, such as Section 231 IPC on counterfeiting coin.
None of its own. Any fine is set by the offence sections of Chapter XII, such as Section 231 IPC.
Section 230 IPC is a definition with no entry in the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, so it carries no punishment, bail or trial classification of its own.
Example of Section 230 IPC
When Section 230 IPC Does Not Apply
- Objects that are not made of metal, such as shells, paper notes, or plastic tokens, do not fall within the definition of coin even if people use them as money.
- Pieces of metal that have not been stamped and issued by the authority of a State or Sovereign Power, such as raw metal ingots or privately minted tokens, are not coin.
- Stamped metal pieces issued by a State for non-monetary purposes, such as military decorations or commemorative medallions, are not coin because they are not intended to be used as money.
- Foreign metal currency that has been withdrawn from circulation and is no longer used for the time being as money ceases to be coin, as only Indian coin retains its status after ceasing to be used as money.
Section 230 IPC in the BNS
Section 230 IPC is now covered under Section 178 BNS.
Section 230 IPC has no stand-alone counterpart in the BNS. Its definition of coin is now clause 2 of the Explanation to Section 178 BNS, which gives coin the meaning in section 2 of the Coinage Act, 2011, and adds that it includes metal used for the time being as money and stamped and issued by or under the authority of any State or Sovereign Power. The separate definition of Indian coin and the Illustrations are not carried over.
View detailed comparison (IPC 230 vs BNS 178) →FAQs on Section 230 IPC
What does Section 230 IPC define?▼
It defines coin and Indian coin for the purposes of Chapter XII of the Indian Penal Code.
What is the definition of coin under Section 230 IPC?▼
Coin is metal used for the time being as money, and stamped and issued by the authority of some State or Sovereign Power in order to be so used.
What is Indian coin under Section 230 IPC?▼
Indian coin is metal stamped and issued by the authority of the Government of India in order to be used as money, and it continues to be Indian coin for Chapter XII even after it has ceased to be used as money.
Are cowries or unstamped copper pieces considered coin under Section 230 IPC?▼
No. The statutory illustrations specify that cowries and lumps of unstamped copper, even if used as money, are not coin.
Does Section 230 IPC prescribe any punishment or bail status?▼
No. Section 230 IPC is a definition and prescribes no punishment, and it has no entry in the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Section 230 IPC: where is the definition of coin located in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼
In clause 2 of the Explanation to Section 178 BNS. The BNS has no separate definition of Indian coin.
Have questions about Section 230 IPC?
Ask NyayGuru for a plain language explanation, punishment details, or how it applies to your situation.
Ask NyayGuru →Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.
Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·