Section 17. Whoever counterfeits any gold or silver coin current by law or usage within the commonwealth, or has in his possession at the same time ten or more pieces of false money, or coin counterfeited in the similitude of any gold or silver coin current as aforesaid, knowing the same to be false and counterfeit, and with intent to utter or pass the same as true, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years.