Coins

1. Identification and treatment of coins suspected to be counterfeited

The cash handlers, except for those referred to in article 2, point 13, letter g)[1] of Law no. 101 of 29 July 2013, submit the coins to the authentication procedure through the use of compliant devices or through the manual control made by trained personnel. As regards to any coins rejected during the authentication process because suspected of being counterfeited, the cash handler must apply the following procedure:

a) unconditionally hold the coins;

b) prepare the MS report referred to in Annex 3 of the Regulation no. 2013-04 of the Central Bank, in three counterparts;

c) previously transmit e-mail to the Central Bank and to the Anti-counterfeiting Central Office, not later than on the second business day after the identification of the coin suspected of being counterfeited, the MS report, together with a photocopy of the coin withdrawn;

d) deliver a copy of the MS report to the client-presenting person, except where the coin was found absent any such person;

e) keep a copy of the MS report with attached a photocopy of the coin withdrawn;

f) transmit to the Central Bank, by hand or by means of a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, not later than on the fifth business day following the receipt of the coin, a copy of the M1 report together with the coin withdrawn.

The banks are the only entities entitled to take the actions provided for in letter f) above, also by means of transmission through the Exchange of Domestic Contact Details (Scambio Recapiti Domestici) services.

2. Instructions for the preparation of the report for the coins suspected of being counterfeited

The cash handlers are required to fill in fields from 1 to 25, as regards to M1 report, in accordance with the following instructions:

1) specify a unique and progressive number or alphanumeric identification code;

2) specify the date of reporting (day, month, year);

3) specify the name of the reporting cash handler, the full address of the withdrawing branch/agency/office (if any), telephone number and fax;

4 and 5) specify any Abi and Cab codes;

6) specify the economic operator code (E.O.C.);

7) specify the date when the coin was identified (day, month, year);

8) specify the denomination of the coin withdrawn;

9) specify the nation to which the coin withdrawn refers;

10) specify the year of issue, as shown on the coin withdrawn;

11) specify for each line, the number of coins withdrawn for the same denomination, country and year of issue;

12) specify the arithmetic sum of the column "number of items";

13) specify the number of attached forms, to be used if the four printed lines provided in section B) are not sufficient. These attached forms shall bear the protocol reference number 1) of the report MS of which they form an integral part;

14) cross the box "In the presence of the presenting person" if the banknotes are withdrawn in the presence of the latter. Otherwise, cross the box "Absent the presenting person". The box "Other useful information" must include other circumstances of the finding or presentation of the coin (such as, but not limited to, the voluntary delivery by the presenting person who requests that it be assessed whether the coin is genuine or counterfeited).

15, 16, 17 and 18) specify the identification details of the presenting person, taken from an identity document or provided orally (purported), by crossing the corresponding box;

19) specify the address, even if different from the residence, where the presenting person may be found;

20) specify a telephone number where the presenting person may be reached;

21) specify the circumstances in which the presenting person came into possession of the coins;

22 and 23) specify surname and name of the operator who withdraws the coin;

24) affix the stamp of the person liable and the signature of the reporting operator;

25) if present, have the person presenting the coin sign the form.

3. Identification and treatment of coins expressed in Euro unsuited for circulation

The cash handlers withdraw from circulation and transmit to the Central Bank, for the purposes of their replacement or refund, the coins rejected during the authentication process referred to in the paragraph on the identification and treatment of coins suspected of being counterfeited, which are not suspected of being counterfeited. In the cases referred to in the previous paragraph, the cash handlers must comply with the following procedure:

a) unconditionally hold the coins;

b) deliver to the Central Bank the coins withdrawn as unsuited, in compliance with the provisions of article 28 of the Law no. 101 of 29 July 2013 and keep the Central Bank harmless for the non-payment of the coins that, after the checking made by the Central Bank itself, are found to be suspected of being counterfeited.

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[1] Businesses such as merchants and gambling houses and games of chance referred to in Law no. 67 of 25 July 2000, which take part on an ancillary basis to the management and distribution of banknotes to the public by means of automatic cash dispensers within the limits of such ancillary activities.