How to ship coins, and insurance questions.

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by american2, Jun 23, 2008.

  1. american2

    american2 Member

    Hi there,

    Must coins be shipped via register mail? Or can you ship coins using regular methods and pay the lower insurance fees? I've heard that the regular insurance rates do not cover coins and bullion, and that you must ship coins registered mail if you want insurance. I've also heard that you are not allowed to ship coins via priority mail at all. These reports make no sense to me as everyone on ebay is shipping coins priority mail with the regular form of insurance.

    Who has experience with shipping coins and understands how the insurance works?

    Thanks!
     
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  3. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    Just send them & insure them.
    there is no where to say the contents.
    [and I have never heard about restrictions].

    also, if a high $ value, registered & insured is/can be cheaper.
     
  4. scottishmoney

    scottishmoney Buh bye

    That said, there are nosey parkers in the post orafice that will ask what is in there, I have been through that. Answer honestly, but vaguely of course. Machine stamped disks:)
     
  5. american2

    american2 Member

    So then you would concur that it is illegal to ship coins via regular postal service methods?
     
  6. gxseries

    gxseries Coin Collector

    It's a yes and no. If it's declared as hobbies or numismatic related, it's fine but it's illegal to send currencies. Paradoxical but I've got many coins sent over from the US.
     
  7. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    It is not illegal. But the Post Office has long had a policy of not shipping cash through the mail. If you told the clerk at the Post Office that you were shipping 5 $100 dollar bills to someone they would refuse to insure it because that is cash. But if you told them that you were shipping 5 collectible notes they would insure it. And if something happened they would honor the insurance. Been there, done that. It's the same with coins.
     
    Aslpride and geekpryde like this.
  8. ozarktravler

    ozarktravler Senior Member

    You need too...

    You need to insure coins with postal service US mail for the amount there actually worth. also need confirmation delivery to keep track of coins location. priority mail just gets package there faster, no coverage if lost. :smile Ozark
     
  9. srkjkd

    srkjkd Book before coin

    i normally use priority flat packs w/ return reciept and insurance. if you ship via registered, you will need to declare contents. heritage and other firms i have used normally do the priority flat packs. i have never had any problems. i sent out a package registered recently. it is safe and got there, but it took nearly 2 wks for the package to arrive only a couple of states away.
    it doesn't cost much for a return reciept and insurance and is well worth it. if you are sending out very expensive coins, you may wish to use registered mail. pack stuff well when you send the coins.
    hope this helps .
    best wishes,
    steve
     
  10. Arizona Jack

    Arizona Jack The Lincoln-ator

    I ship 1st class with added insurance in most cases, and on high value items I ship Priority with signature confirmation and insurance.

    Never lost a coin.
     
  11. gatzdon

    gatzdon Numismatist

    OK, Let this be a lesson to everyone, ALWAYS goto the source. Don't guess.

    http://www.usps.com/insuranceclaims/_pdf/pub122.pdf

    Scroll to page 10 in the booklet. You will find this.

    g. Fair market value of stamps and coins of
    philatelic or numismatic value, as determined by
    a recognized stamp or coin dealer or current coin
    and stamp collector’s newsletter and trade paper.

    If you scroll down to page 13 to the section "What is not payable"
    you will find no limitations on coins.

    So, if you absolutely must have that specific coin and no
    replacement could ever fill that hole in your heart,
    then it must be Registered. If you just don't want to
    incur the dollar loss should a coin be stolen, then just
    use insured.

    The biggest reason for not telling the postal clerk what
    is in the envelope/package, is because they are the most
    likely person to steal the contents. If you feel like being
    polite when they ask what is in there, just say Collectibles
    and leave it at that.
     
  12. Just Carl

    Just Carl Numismatist

    Some time ago I sent coins to people in those USP service padded envelopes with insurance and return receipts. It cost almost as much as the coins in some instances. I eventually learned to just put the coins inbetween 2 pieces of cardboard and taped them shut. Then placed that in a standard evelope with heavy papers on both sides, took to a post office and sent as a letter. Much, much cheaper and so far never lost anything yet. As long as no one knows there are coins in the envelope they should be fine. Of course for large amounts of coins, that is another story.
     
  13. vavet

    vavet New Member

    One point about delivery confirmation. The USPS does not confirm that the item was delivered to the correct address, just that it was delivered in the correct zip code.
     
  14. josh's coins

    josh's coins Well-Known Member

    So does USPS insure coins and honor it like ups does?
     
  15. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    USPS does insure coins and does honor their insurance. UPS I'm not sure about. At one time neither UPS nor FedEx would insure coins at all. One of them, I forget which, will now insure them, but only up to a maximum value of $1,000. (USPS max is $25K for Registered mail, $5K for everything else.)
     
  16. josh's coins

    josh's coins Well-Known Member

    I was told by the clerk at the USPS that I could not insure coins and that I could send them through registered mail instead.
     
  17. 19Lyds

    19Lyds Member of the United States of Confusion

    Registered mail only requires a "declared value" not "declared contents" and "Collectible Coins or Numismatic items" are fully insurable according to the USPS Service Manual.

    Shipping registered mail outside of the US Borders requires you to declare the contents.
     
  18. josh's coins

    josh's coins Well-Known Member

    So I can insure coins through usps??
     
  19. 19Lyds

    19Lyds Member of the United States of Confusion

    Yes. As long as they are of a numismatic nature.
     
  20. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    That's because a whole lot of postal clerks don't understand the difference between the coins you carry around in your pocket and those in their cash drawers, and those are collectible numismatic items.

    Next time one tells you that, tell them to get their book of regs out and look it up. It'll be right there in front of them in black and white.
     
    Aslpride likes this.
  21. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    And to help them find it it is

    Domestic Mail Manual
    Section 609 Filing Indemnity Claims for Loss or Damage
    4.0 Claims
    4.1 Payable Claims
    g. For stamps and coins of philatelic or numismatic value; the fair market value is determined by a recognized stamp or coin dealer or current coin and stamp collectors’ newsletters and trade papers. The date of the fair market value determination must be current and prior to the mailing date.

    If they will pay the claim on them, they must be insurable.
     
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