Hey all, I will be flying over the next two days for work. I want to take a hand full of coins with me to take pics of during my free time in my hotel room. None of these coins are so valuable that make it's prohibitive to take them with me, but I am wondering if I'll run into trouble at the TSA checks if I have a stack of 2x2s with coins in them in my carry one bag. Anyone done this. I don't plan on putting them in my suite case, but keeping them on me in my carry on.
I would put them in a small bag in your brief case. I am confident you will not have to remove them from the briefcase. I travel all the time and unless they have a sharp edge or look like some plastic explosive you have nothing to worry about.
Coins aren't on the TSA's prohibited list so I don't see why there would be a problem. I've traveled with thousands of dollars worth of coins I've bought at shows and carried them through airport security in my pockets and they never batted an eye.
The TSA won't confiscate them. The risk is loudmouth inspectors announcing to the world that you are carrying coins potentially making you a robbery target. If what you are carrying is of high value you can always request a private screening explaining that you are carrying valuables.
Thanks everyone, I was more after anyone with experience and looks like I should be ok. I've looked at the prohibited list and didn't see them on there, but you never know. What do you find weird?
Traveling with your coins to take pictures. You must be really busy to not find the time to do it at home.
Most times it is done at home, but since I'm going to have about 6 hours free in the hotel room, its better than getting in trouble But, let's see, 2 kids in school, a wife (who works outside of the home), 6 acres to mow, a house to take care of, full time job, landlord duties, and much much more, it is tough to find time to take pictures of coins OH! and fishing!
I've flown many of times with both coins and straight bullion (10oz bars). I always request prior to screening for a private screening. Everyone has this right. They will take 2-3 security persons and yourself into a private room and scan your bag and if need be open it and see inside. With the bars, they looked inside but had no hassle. They were actually interested in seeing them and asked if they could hold them (some people have never seen that kind of stuff). I walked out and we parted ways. Flying with coins alone they never even opened my bag. The only issue is if you are flying with a large amount of gold internationally. It constitutes the carrying of substantial unrecorded wealth (cash >$10K) across country lines.
I have had that very thing happen in Amsterdam - I told the obnoxious clerk I had gold bars in my carryon and that they would set off the metal detector and requested a private screening. Instead the security agent proceeded to invade the bag and look for the bars and held them up for everyone to see. After that I stopped hauling Swiss bars and only carried Vienna Philamoniker(sp?) as they were round and obviously coins and not as suspect.
