storing bullion

I have some questions on storing bullion.

1. Where/how do you store your bullion that you physcially hold?
2. I have a 1/2 tube of ASE. I opened them recently and they are starting to tarnish. Is there a way to prevent this? is this a result of my storage....all my bullion are in Rubbermaid tubs in a cool dry place.? are the green mint tubes the best way to store loose ASE's?
3. Costco has a 7 cu ft gun safe at a reasonable price. I was considering picking one up for my bullion/coins (and a handgun?). any issue with storing the bullion and a hand gun? For those that use safes, How do you secure it so it doesn't "walk away?:"

Much Thanks,

 

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The majority of my bullion is junk silver. I keep them in the plastic coin tubes with lids. My ASE I keep in airtights. I have a Sentry fireproof safe that has treated me well. I keep my Smith and Wesson revolver in there but in a case so it is not as exposed to the coins. I have not had any problems.

 

A paranoid person might imagine:
Burgler breaks in while you are at work
Sees not only a large safe but coin magazines, articles on gold investing and a handgun magazine.
Now instead of leaving with your ipod, tv and the Polaroid pics of your ex-girlfriend, he decides to wait for you to return. He overpowers you the way he did so many smaller guys in jail and now beats you savagely with a pipe so you will open the safe. He loads the gun and shoots you and leaves with all the American Silver Eagles and the Israeli Desert Eagle as well..

 

Cool, dry and sealed should be a good environment for coins. I wonder why they're tarnishing. It shouldn't affect their value though.

Safes can be bolted down or filled with hundreds of pounds of dead weight, but you'd be surprised how heavy a safe a professional can move.

There's a school of thought that prefers hiding bullion over putting it in a safe. Dunno what to think about that, but remember that if you can think of a hiding place easily then so can a burglar.

 

not telling :goofer: you dount know whos reading

 

I'd be concerned about keeping a handgun in the safe with the coins. Guns are kept clean by the application of oils and solvents. I would be worried that having those chemicals airborne in that closed compartment might contaminate the coins unless one or the other was in an airtight container.

Besides if someone were to burglarize your home and try to steal the safe while you were asleep, what would you do? "Um, pardon me while I get my gun so I can shoot you."

Chris

 

:hammer: lol

 

I just throw my stuff in a bag and keep it hidden in my mattress.

I don't sleep so well, must be getting older....

 

If I was a burglar I'd know where the best stuff was kept:

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/mba0001l.jpg

 

no the princess and the pea . did your mom not tell you that story

 

I guess it really depends on how much you have to safekeep. if it's 1/2 a role of SAE, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

There was a youtube video circulating a few months back showing just how flimsy those big gun safes really are. I thought about getting one for my many shotguns, but that video gave me pause. For $1,000, you'd think they were stronger than that.

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBhOjWHbD6M

 

The senario you outlined so well is not paranoid. That is life and death - it's a reality unfortunately.

Join the NRA, and buy 10 back up guns. Throw a shot gun in too!:hail:

P.S. I don't mean to be so ownry. I don't own an ipod, tv, or polaroid pics of an ex. However, I do have a little fire power and some extra ammo.

 

In the past, I have bagged some of my stuff and tossed in the bottom of the trash can. There was not one else to throw out the trash, so I have been pretty safe.

 

Ingredients for storing bullion: Airtites, Eva-Dry, SDB

 

I read about this trick and I am considering trying it. It pretty much inovolves cutting into your basement/slab floor and digging out a hole. Buy a conventional sentry safe with a mechanical combo lock. Partially fill the hole with wet concrete and drop the safe in on it's side (door side up). Put something over the safe door and don't tell anyone.

I've used lots of hiding places and tricks over the years to hide things. Never had a problem but I know it's a false sense of security. Any burglar with enough time will get your goods. Offsite storage is probably best for anyting other than doomsday bullion.

Think about this. Which do you think will be more valuable in a total civil collapse
1) A 2008 Proof Buffalo
2) A 2008 regular Bullion Buffalo

When your appendix busts and you need a doctor (if you can find one!) unless that doctor is a collector or likes coins extra shiny an ounce is an ounce.

 

If your only worried about small amounts, hide them in your dirty laundry basket. Of course in an airtite container. I wouldnt buy any stinky coins.

A safe can easily be mounted to a wall , maybe inside your closet. Maybe make a hidden compartment.

Tear up the floor in a closet ( if you have wood floor), Make a small compartment to hold the safe.

I helped a friend years ago move a huge gun safe to his basement. Of course, we had to tear a wall out just to get it in. No problem fixing the wall.

I would agree bout putting guns in along with your coins. Bad thing to do , unless the coins are in an airtite container.

Add a smaller safe maybe in a drawer or something, so when the thief finds it, maybe he wont look any further.

If a thief has enough time and power tools, most safes are unsafe.

 

I think along the same lines.

I have a store on Main St, a home in the boonies and a home in town. None of my PM's are in any of them unless they are for sale, which isn't much. Give a thief, time and an opportunity and they will take advantage of it.

When was the last really successful bank robbery in a small town? You know, one where they cleaned it out, including the SDB's?

 

all my silver is junk silver, mostly quarters. i keep them hidden in electronics. my computer is my safe! if there was ever a fire, the dog and computer would be the two things grabbed and taken to safety.

i thought about putting all my coins in with my gun safe, but there aint much room, i don't own a handgun(yet). i have my set of 1899 gold coins, in my gun cabinet that houses my AK, AR-15, and 12 gauge benelli. i heart big guns, i just need more! i wish i got my grandfathers gun hoard when he passed, we both loved guns. i just hope i never have to use my guns on a burglary, the rounds for the AR/AK are expensive!

i would just get some air tight holders and a safe dedicated for coins and currency and one for your guns and everything else. but imo, locking your gun up is more important then bullion if any kids have access to your house. i would rather be robbed then my little brother or nephew getting a hold of my guns..

 

I'm not sure I would put valuables in my computer housing. Thats already one of the items a would be thief is probably going to consider grabbing without it being filled wiht silver.

 

This is a good [and underrated] idea. If you store a few coins where a thief can find them relatively easily, like in a box or cheap safe in a bedroom, he may be satisfied that he found the main stash and leave.

But all things considered, a safe deposit box at the bank is probably best. Then again, I'm not a believer in the end of civilization and survivalist movements that are very popular now.