U.S. Mint says Columbia artist not investigated

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. -- Although his actions are suspect, a Columbia artist who has been placing stickers over quarters is not being investigated by the Secret Service, the U.S. Mint said Thursday.

The Mint statement marks its the third different stance toward Paul Jackson, whose has been protesting the Mint since it revised his Lewis and Clark design for Missouri's commemorative quarter.

Jackson says he has distributed about 100,000 quarter-sized stickers bearing his design, and he and his supporters have personally placed several thousand of those stickers on quarters in circulation.

On Aug. 16, Mint spokesman Doug Hecox told The Associated Press that Jackson's ploy appeared to be legal, because the stickers could be removed.

Four days later, Hecox called the AP to say the Mint believed Jackson's actions may violate a federal law against defacing currency, adding: "The Secret Service is going to begin to look into it."

On Thursday, Mint spokesman Michael White said the previous statements by Hecox were incorrect.

"There was no investigation with the Secret Service," White said. But he added that the Mint believes Jackson's actions could violate a federal law.

The law cited by White -- Title 18, Section 475 -- authorizes a fine for anyone who designs, makes or distributes a business card, notice, placard, circular, handbill or advertisement with the likeness of U.S money. The fine also applies to anyone who attaches such an item to a coin.

Jackson said Thursday that his stickers don't fall under any of the prohibitions.

Sticking point

"I still don't believe that I'm doing any thing illegal," Jackson said. "I am stickering quarters and I freely admit it, and I call it a First Amendment right to freedom of speech."

On Aug. 16, Hecox said Jackson's quarter design -- which had won an initial Internet vote in Missouri -- was not among the four finalists for the Missouri quarter under review by the treasury secretary.

On Thursday, however, White said that Jackson's concept for the Missouri quarter is still in the running.

After being reviewed by the secretary of the treasury, the final designs of several quarter options are to sent to Gov. Bob Holden in the upcoming weeks, White said. The governor has said he plans to hold another statewide Internet vote, then submit the top choice to the Mint as Missouri's quarter.

The Missouri commemorative quarter is due out in August 2003.