Definition

• According to Justia.com, Penal Code 478 reads: "Counterfeiting is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three or four years."
  
  

Significance

• Penal Code 478 can be found in Chapter 4 of the California Penal Codes 470-482.5 that regulates forgery and counterfeiting in California.
  
  

Function

• Penal Code 478 works in conjunction with Penal Code 477. Code 477 outlines who is guilty of the crime of counterfeiting.
  
  

Considerations

• Penal Code 477 reads: "Every person who counterfeits any of the species of gold or silver coin current in this state, or any kind or species of gold dust, gold or silver bullion, or bars, lumps, pieces, or nuggets, or who sells, passes, or gives in payment such counterfeit coin, dust, bullion, bars, lumps, pieces, or nuggets, or permits, causes, or procures the same to be sold, uttered, or passed, with intention to defraud any person, knowing the same to be counterfeited, is guilty
  of counterfeiting."
  
  

Effects

• Possessing or manufacturing tools used to counterfeit currency carries the same punishment of "imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years" under the California Penal Code.