Coin shipping methods

[KurtS]

Having just shipped a few coins to collectors, I am currently reviewing my shipping methods.
A while ago, I wrote an article on another forum that received favorable response, so I'll post it again here. 

Given recent talk about high eBay shipping rates*, and how some collectors have received coins shipped in a way that can only be described as negligent, I wanted to briefly demonstrate how I ship coins. Here is my technique to protect the coins en route--it's quick and quite economical (costs given in USD$):

1. Coin goes in flip (or air-tite capsule if I have the size); cost: 8c for flip, 25c for capsule.

2. For especially nice or rarer coins I then seal in zip-loc with silica gel to further reduce environmental hazards to the coin. After all, some packages may be subjected to rain and snow for hours while en route. Cost: ziploc was free, silica gel 5c.

3. Coin and ziploc is then taped to oversize card stock to reduce edge impacts and impart stability. Cost: free, recyclable material!

4. I wrap a layer of bubble wrap around the coin and card. Cost: 25c per sqft = 5c for this amount.

5. Everything is put into an oversize bubble mailer and double-sealed with tape. Cost: 30c.

Total material cost = $0.48-.65 depending if a airtite capsule is used. Postage will vary between $1.25-2.70 for standard rate depending on the destination, giving us a total $1.75-$3.35.

For this particular coin, I'll fill out a customs form because it's going to Canada; overall it's a very economical, quick and effective process once you have all the materials on hand.



* I do realize many eBay sellers pad rates to defray their costs elsewhere, but that's a different issue I won't discuss here.

[AdamL]

Very interesting. Where do you get your silica gel packetts?

[KurtS]

Thanks Adam! 
I got the silicagel on eBay; it was pretty cheap.

[ElleKitty]

You're far more thorough than am I, Kurt.  If I'm shipping out a large handful of common coins, I just cram them in a small plastic baggie and stuff that in a padded envelope.  So far that's worked perfectly.

I'd be more careful with more rare, expensive coins. Generally in a 2x2 or individual baggie, taped to cardstock, and then hidden inside the padded envelope.

The only time I've ever had a problem sending coins is the one envelope I sent to Triggersmob about a year ago.  Lost a lovely Peru 1 Sol silver, and an 1972 Aussie 5 cent. ><

[KurtS]

You're far more thorough than am I, Kurt.

I should note the coin example I used for the article has a CV of ~$100  (NFLD 1904-H 1c in XF45+)   It mailed to Nova Scotia.
But yes--when I ship little bags of circ. wheats, Kitty's method works perfectly well.  But I mostly sell single coins/small lots now.

[Paint Your Wagon]

Some of this may not apply to the US

1) Coins in a capsule and then in a small bubbler and then in a big bubbler envelope shipped as a lettre have the highest degree of safety
The coin is well protected and the big bubbler makes it difficult to slip in a trousers pocket

I just got a package shipped as package because some germans thinks that the insurance is easier and it does not disappear as easily but they forget that it is then thrown into a transport with things up to 60 pounds ( 30 kilogram ) so I received a coin in a leather box and the box was litterally shreaded by the hardbord incert cutting it . After some emails and pics the free replacement box came in a lettre bubbler 

2) I did a trade last year with a member from another forum ; quiet complex trade since he is a jeweller ; two old cruicifes and a mounted belgian king against two bottles of perfume that are not for sale in belgium and the balance in paypal
I sent the mounted coin in a thick four layer cardboard in which I had cut out a square and the put cardboard over the hole on both sides and taped it and put it in a large doclument mailer map . It worked so well he confessed he had it opened with witnesses present cause he could not feel the coin inside 

3) Last year I bought a coin in paraguay risking my money I know .
I got the coin very fast as overnight documents in a fedex envelope

4) The weirdest was an italian shipping a 5 kilo box and the coin was inside a cutout in a telephone book

[Triggersmob]

Lost a lovely Peru 1 Sol silver, and an 1972 Aussie 5 cent. ><

I always wondered what it was that went missing with the Aussie 5c.
Now I know.

[ElleKitty]

Damn, Steve.. I thought you knew.

This may be rubbing salt in the wound, but I took pictures of her before I mailed her out.  And so- just in case someone comes across this coin somewhere in the future. *grins*  She belongs to triggersmob.

[Triggersmob]

That's a beautiful looking coin. Now I am feeling depressed. 


Steve 

[justabeginner]

Hey Steve... If it helps the coin has rim dings Still depressed?

[KurtS]

two old cruicifixes and a mounted belgian king against two bottles of perfume that are not for sale in belgium and the balance in paypal

I suspect the crucifixes are what saved your mailing...they scare off the postal vampires, you know. 

Very creative shipping.  I'll need to try that for risky shipments, although I didn't consider much risk when shipping to Europe (except Italy--I've heard stories about customs)   

That's too bad about the Peruvian Sol 

[Paint Your Wagon]

Brussel X the postal customs are ....well I supect ........I would not trust them farther then I could throw them
The only coin that ever dissappeared was between Switzerland and Belgium and insurance paid after 3 months ( Brussels X)
The only coin I haver had to pay taxes on was a double eagle from Switzerland and should be free of taxes ( Brussels X )

A few years back I ordered supper blue stuff in the US as pain relieve for my wife . Customs kept it july and august in store since they were understaffed and phoned me in septembre that the BEAUTY product would be 21% tax . So I told them about the thing they could do to the rolling doughnut and that in the summerheat the Emu Balsem was spoiled and to mail it back were it came from . Well they did not insist on their 21% but mailed the box very quietly to me probably hoping I would not lodge an official complaint

On the non border transfers also very weird but from decembre first till end of january all uninsured packages I receive have a thumb pushed through the outter layers so one can see what is in the package but then I guess they have more then enough dayplanners and agenda books because they allways arrive .

This year the most strange thing happened . I had a postal inspector ringing my bell saying he missed a signature on the insurance documents of a 500 euro package . So I told him that was not strange since I never received the package . Then he tried four times to make me confess I had received it but forgotten to sign , So I told him about the thumbprints and what I thought of his operation . He mumbled something about the nightshift and that he would have to file with the police . So I said fine that saves me the trouble of running to the police station .
Next day our postman rung the bell and told me sheepishly the lost package was found inside my mailbox : I opened the package and sure enough the coin was there . So I signed for receipt and waited for my empty mailbox to reproduce some more coins but it never did 

[CoinCrusader42]

When I was in college in the middle 1960's, I had a "pen pal" who offered to send be some beautiful coins.

He did just that.  He sent crowns,many silver, a small gold coin, and descriptions of them all.

What's amazing is HOW he sent them.  He put them between ther pages of magazines, rolled the managzines tight, and taped them securelyl  He put on the address lables and mailed them as cheply as he could.  They all made it,  I still have some.  Beautiful coins.  We visited Dublin a couple summers ago, and it would have been interestin to try and track him down, but didn't have the time.

 

[S.George]

 

Sir CoinCrusader42:

Now things have changed in post office and customs.   They operate Automatic Sorting Mchaines, Scan etc.,

In India, all  INCOMING AND OUTGOING letters, packages, parcels etc., are Filmed/Scaned by customs and then passed with their
"FLMD" seal.

Sincerely,
George