Question: Bernard von NotHaus (the creator of the [Liberty Dollar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Dollar)) was convicted of violating a U.S. federal law that forbids the minting of a currency by anyone in the U.S. besides the federal government. Might it be claimed that bitcoins are also a currency and their users or creators violate that same law?

Answer: 
The convictions, currently under appeal, are for

* making coins resembling and similar to United States coins
* issuing, passing, selling, and possessing Liberty Dollar coins
* issuing and passing Liberty Dollar coins intended for use as current money
* conspiracy against the United States

The essenges of bitcoin is a cryptographically signed message and therefore bears no resemblance to United States coins. The Casascius physical bitcoin and Bitbills are the closest things and nowhere do they come close to a U.S. coin. The Bitcoin medals / silver 1 ounce rounds at My Bitcoin Mint or MJB Monetary Metals are simply silver commodities no different than the thousands of other silver medals and rounds produced.

There are private currencies in use in certain locales. Berkshares in Massachusetts and Potomac currency near D.C. even, for instance. Their issuance has been left unchallenged. 

So far, there has been no determination as to what Bitcoin is. Is it a commodity? A foreign exchange currency? A stored value (regulated under the definition of prepaid access?) But there is little association between Bitcoin and a U.S. coin.
There is no evidence to suggest that law applies to Bitcoin. See also [What is the current legal status of Bitcoin?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/131/what-is-the-current-legal-status-of-bitcoin-around-the-world)