Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Minnesota

Below is the federal statute controlling counterfeiting. As you have described in your question, my interpretation is you would be using the image as art, no intent to defraud and undermine the value of currency. Therefore what you have described is legal. However I have handled some Federal Counterfeiting cases, and the penalties are harsh, I would not mess around too much with this.

Search 18 U.S.C. � 472 : US Code - Section 472: Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities

Whoever, with intent to defraud, passes, utters, publishes, or

sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or with like

intent brings into the United States or keeps in possession or

conceals any falsely made, forged, counterfeited, or altered

obligation or other security of the United States, shall be fined

under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.