Section 2 of the Act began with an explanation for why the Act was necessary: ...and whereas the uttering of false money, knowing it to be false, is a crime frequently committed all over the kingdom, and the offenders therein are not deterred, by reason that it is only a misdemeanour, and the punishment very often is but small, though there be great reason to believe that the common utterers of such false money are either themselves the coiners, or in confederacy with the coiners thereof...Sections 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8 of the Act came into force on 29 September 1742.

Section 3 provided that a person who committed an offence under section 2 and then committed the same offence again within 10 days, or was found in possession of more counterfeit money within 10 days was to be deemed "a common utterer of false money" and sentenced to 1 year imprisonment and then provide sureties for his good behaviour for another 2 years.

If a person convicted of this offence ever uttered or tendered false coin in payment again, he was guilty of felony without benefit of clergy.

If the sheriff failed to pay then he was to forfeit double the reward money, plus treble the costs of suing him, which would all be paid to the informer.

Section 8 said that anyone who committed an offence against the Act but who then provided information leading to the conviction of two or more other offenders was to be pardoned.