Home safes for coins

Some have raised concerns about Safe Deposit Boxes for coins. It seems the best alternative is a home safe.

Does anyone have any recommendations on Safes for coins ? Any "do's and don'ts" ?

What type of entry system is best... Touchpad ? Key ? Traditional tumblers ? All of the above ?

Which manufacturers are best ? Are there any which should be avoided ?
Any tips on keeping humidity low inside ?

How about some helpful hints for anchoring it to the wall.

I looked in Consumer Reports online and didn't see anything.

 

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look up fortknox safes as far as i know, they are THE premier safe builders .. but you pay the price. I am sure there are alot of other companies like fortknox safes, but they are the one i came across the most often when trying to find a dependable, yet cost minded safe.

 

I purchased a Sentry safe from office depot about 4yrs ago ($250).
It works with a digital keypad /keyed lock system ,eventually i bolted it to the garage floor
with the supplied 6" bolts (had to buy a carbon tipped drill bit).
While its not the most high end "fort Knox" type model it serves my purposes well and
is still operating with the original AAA size battery.
the weight of the safe with the coins inside has got to be in the neighborhood of 400 lb plus.
I recommend using silca gel to control the moister inside.
As i said it's not a Bank vault but perfect for my budget and i feel pretty secure with it.
In hindsight i should have bought the next size up,those proof sets do tend to take up quite a lot of space.
Good luck

 

So, do you like the digital keypad / keyed system ? Is there anyone out there that can comment on the thief-proof security of that ?

Also... just curious... what is the function of the AAA battery ?

 

Electrocution. :whistle:

 

Safes are great - just realize that the best safe will only slow down a determined thief with time on his hands. If nothing else, they will just take the whole safe. I have a good friend who is a deputy sheriff - he tells me that a safe usually just tells a burgler what to steal.

Some recommendations for a safe:

-Recommend bolting the safe to the floor (preferrably concrete) and to the wall to make it more difficult to remove.
-If possible, use an in-floor or in-wall safe that can be hidden.
-Also consider a home security system as another "layer" - again not foolproof, but it might convince a would-be thief to look for another easier target.

v/r
Dan

 

The AAA battery is for the electronic keypad and while I don't think the keyed lock would be hard to pick for an experienced thief the combined lock/keypad system seems secure because you need both to get in.
I started to open it the other day, accidentally entered the wrong combo and was denied
Access, had to wait about ten minutes before it reset, which is an additional security feature.
.

 

one reccomendation I would have is to figure out how big you think your safe should be and go at least one size larger. I would actually get as large as you can fit into the space that you have. I've already upgraded once and it looks like another is in the future.

 

I bought my safe about 15 years ago from Cabelas. I don't know if they even sell them anymore. I'd reccoment as high a fire rating as you can afford, as well as dual core. Dual core costs more, or at least used to, but even the best locking doors are worthless if the sides aren't reinforced and a thief has a cutting torch. My core is 4.25 inches of lead. I like the tmbler system with a locking function. And, like was mentioned above, make sure it has a way to bolt to at least the floor.

Oh...and make double sure you measure before you buy. Long story short, my safe will not fit through any doors or windows in my house. This wasn't done on purpose, and the extra hassel it involved getting it indoors, plus expense was a real pain. Of course, a thief will have to take out walls to remove it, so it all works out
Guy~

 

I'm finding this out myself. Stuff that used to look really big, isn't looking all that big anymore. Part of it is that the actual storage area in them is so small.

Places like wizardcoinsupply sell really nice, large, re-chargeable silica gel packs. I got one good for 33 Cu. Ft. but they also sell one for 66 Cu. Ft. Get a huge one and you'll be set for a while. Outside humidity 60%+. Inside, 20%. They work well.

 

One of the safes i have has both keypad(which requires a battery) and key. You use one or the other, don't need both. When the batteries are low, the safe will not open even if you get the right numbers. Also, check how the handle/lever is made. Not just the outside part, but the part that actually makes the locking mechinisims unlock. I have found that cast handles are prone to cracking. This puts them out of alignment and makes it very hard to open the safe. After a theif tries to crowbar the handle, wouldn't you like to be able to open the safe again? My favorite if my grandpas old safe. Combination and you have to pass the right #s so many times in each direction before actually landing on it.

 

My safe is a big one, old fashioned Liberty brand, about 620# empty according to the paperwork.

I chose the old heavy one rather than one with the keypad or anything fancy. Just heavy, big and fireproof.

 

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You know if it weren't for the liability and safety issues, wiring a safe to 20,000 volts might not be a bad idea

 

If you check the archives, you will probably find a number of threads about this issue. I know I have participated in a couple before.

Having said that, I have found that gun safes are probably the easiest, most economical safes to consider for coins. The big caveat is that for most of them, you will need to customize the safes by building your own shelves internally in order to maximize their usefulness for holding coins.

 

My dad used to use this company for his clients..

http://www.safesetc.com/wall-safes.html

He used to always suggest the in-wall variety and put it in a closet or somewhere that could be covered up. The downside to the in-wall safes is that they're not that deep, so for coins it may not be the best if you have a whole lot of stuff.

 

...right up until the day the cat jumps up on it.

 

The thing about safes that causes me the most grief is there are desperate or nutzo folks that will forcefully try and persuade you or your housemates to open it, if they want what you have bad enough.

 

I work in a prison and have garnered some information in the years that I have worked there. I like Jack have a Liberty safe with a locking tumbler. I weighs with all my stuff in it about 600# +++. The clients (lol) that I work with basically say that given the time any safe can be broken and that any safe is as only strong as the things they are bolted to. " jumping on a crow bar loosens lots of safe's. The best they say for protection is an alert nosey neighbor. Also a security system with an electric eye across the driveway is a great thing. Iam going to put a few better coins in the safe deposit box. Also a little home protection ready to go and the knowledge to use it doesn't hurt. IMHO