Right on the heels of the announcement that the Franklin Mint and 20th Century Fox are issuing quarters emblazoned with the image of the Silver Surfer, the U.S. Mint (and the Treasury Department) have stepped up to explain why that's illegal . According to E!Online, neither Fox nor Franklin remembered to mention the ad technique to the U.S. Mint, who would have happily informed them that their marketing plan violates federal law, which forbids the use of legal tender as a form of advertising.  (The squashed penny machines are still okay.)

"The promotion is in no way approved, authorized, endorsed, or sponsored by the United States Mint, nor is it in any way associated or affiliated with the United States Mint," the government said in a statement.  Officials say they were unaware of the quarters until the press release by Fox.  Fox released an apology, but the 40,000 coins have already been distributed into the currency stream.  Now the publicity from the stunt may cause far more notoriety than the original campaign ever could have dreamed.