It finally happened... stolen coins

Sorry my man. I've recieved a ripped open envelope myself. Though, like you I was lucky it was a less expensive lot from Ebay. I've only had issues with coins from Ebay... other than a one off with timeline. Kinda puts in perspective how rocky Ebay is vs other platforms. Also makes me wonder how much we've been depleting the USPS over the last few years...
Are they refunding you? If not, they aren't worth buying from in the future.

 

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I lucked out and managed to get my coin shipped early from that auction as well. Crazy stuff.

 

I haven't heard work back yet. Hopefully the seller will give me some options. I don't think I'll be buying from then again for many reasons, including that I can find the same or similar things at a similar price in the US instead.

 

A few years ago a package from Spain was late in arrival. When it did arrive it was totally soaked to the point where the cardboard was turning into mush. The address was barely readable.

I separated the soaked layers and at first found nothing, but then the coin did appear, out of its disintegrated envelope and stuck between some newspaper that was used as packing material.

This package was shipped during some very wet weather back east, so I speculate that it was in a bag left out in the heavy rain. But, all things considered, the outcome was good and speaks well of the dedication of the USPS.

Currently I have one letter, tracked overseas first class, that is way overdue (+ 2 months), but I am putting this down to the pandemic and the chaos that the USPS is in the midst of.

The only case of mail theft that I experienced was about 15 years ago, when a coin and another package were delivered to our outside mailbox. The coin was sent Priority Mail, but no signature was required. Both items disappeared from the box. I filed a police report, and I suspected a neighbor's kid, but I had no proof, so I filed an eBay claim, and, surprise, was refunded the purchase price of the coin. I guess the police report helped my case.

So, I removed the outside mail box, and since then all mail is deposited directly into the house (actually part of converted garage).

Still, I recently had one disconcerting experience when, stepping out onto the driveway, there was a package from Roma Numismatics, just sitting there in broad daylight. I guess the package was too large for the slot. My regular mail carrier leaves packages and boxes in my courtyard, so at least they are not visible from the street. I guess a substitute carrier was on the route that day and left the package under the mail slot without giving it much thought.

On other thing about the pandemic. Package that normally require signature through the USPS are being delivered without signature, to reduce exposure of the carriers to the virus. This means that notices are not being left if no one is present to sign, as was the case prior to the pandemic, and packages, such as the one from Roma are left at the residence, as noted in the tracking, regardless of anyone not being at home at the time of the delivery. I am sure many of you know about this change and have had high value coins delivered by the USPS in this manner, since the outbreak of the pandemic.

 

This has happened to me too, I had one coin taken out of an envelope out of a little slit that was cut into it. The coin wasn't even something I bought and was actually a birthday gift. Some people suck, at least you didn't lose anything seriously expensive.

 

If this was stolen, then I can’t imagine the thought process.

they clearly see 10 coins marked at $1.50 euro each... how is that worth anybody’s time??!

in a way I would be less upset if this was a $150 coin, as that would at least MAKE MORE SENSE

 

Probably to be posted by an unethical seller or sellers on eBay.....

 

The gods were smiling upon you.

 

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Sad to hear about your loss.
I had a coin package go missing 2019 - New Zealand to Statesville, NC, USA. Never arrived according to the buyer. Value was not high and buyer accepted some replacements (not the same type/date). Always wonder where those lost packages go.

Just presently waiting on a 2 coin package from Australia which is overdue.......keep checking my PO Box everyday with fingers crossed.

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Yes indeed. I made the appropriate sacrifice to Fortuna!

 

@hotwheelsearl. There you go! Same old, biased, stereotypical response. Blame it on New York. As a New Yorker I resent your comment. No thieves in Germany? None in Irvine? None between NY and Irvine? How many hands touched it between the seller and buyer? You said "I think". Stinkin' thinkin' is what I think.

 

Not to be a dingus but statistically, Irvine is the United States’s safest city, Germany isn’t known for crime so...

then again a comment above mentioned that the envelope could have been ripped in the processing machine.

 

Need stats for Germany?

 

Sorry this happened; at least they weren't extremely valuable nor (I hope) irreplaceable...

As others noted already this could have been accidental damage in the sorting machine and your coins could be now doing tours on the belts :-/ This is the reason packing is very important. This type of soft envelopes with internal bubble wrap can easily get damaged and still several dealers keep using them. I also had a case where the envelope arrived stamped "damaged" by the post but fortunately the carton with the coin was still inside.

As someone mentioned that the insurance would not pay because he signed on delivery, this is a very tricky point. Unless the sender uses tamper proof tape all around the edges of the envelope, fraudulent clerks can open/reseal the envelop in a way that is not so evident that you could immediately spot on delivery. Recording a video of yourself unboxing/opening the envelop might help....

My worst experience ever was when I opened a DHL express envelop only to find out that the carton containing the coin was packed with tape saying "repacked". The coin was still there but I nearly got a heart attack... The external envelop had no signs of opening. So what happened most probably was that the original envelop was opened at customs and DHL used a new envelop (and stickers). If the coin was "lost" in the customs then I would have been screwed big time.



Here's the little fellow:

 

Sorry if you took offense, a theft can happen anywhere, just more statistically likely somewhere like New York City than Irvine

 

Considering the coin in question I understand why you almost had a heart attack! That is not the kind of coin you want to lose in the post. Personally, I wouldn't order such a high value item online. I would try to buy it physically if possible, which is doable in Europe with cheap flights and hotels (pre-covid). A quick European city-break combined with an exciting coin-purchase is not a bad idea

 

Kind of depressing - the loss feels the same whether the lot is inexpensive or expensive. I've only had it happen once before when an envelope arrived without the coin inside.

 

That why I use PayPal and in such case I would open a PayPal dispute and get money back as item was not received.

 

I live in New Zealand now and NZPost do not provide an international tracking service. They also state that currency is prohibited.

Prohibited and restricted items

Bullion, coins*, currency, traveller’s cheques, bonds and shares
Collectables, antiques, paintings, sculpture or other works of art*
Jewellery2, precious metals or stones, watches*
Keys*
Negotiable instruments (inc. bearer securities, bills of exchange or uncrossed cheques)
Numismatic items*
Passports and National ID cards*
Original copies of other identity, travel, ownership or legal documents*
Stamps (unused)*

 

Irrelevant post. Your stat refers solely to violent crime.

Opening a package is NOT a violent crime.

Try citing something relevant, like crime by postal employees at certain cities.