What kind of safes are most practical for the home collector with a modest collection?

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Smith & Wesson, Colt or Glock make great ways to keep your coin collection safe.

 

Steelwater has nice fire and security combo options. If you can't spring 800 to 1000 for one of their medium sized (300 lb) safes you may as well stop collecting. You may as well keep stuff in a shoe box if you're going to use a grab and go container for them.

 

I personally like the 2 Doberman method .

 

I have three of these. I can't say enough good things about them. Super great quality! - Gardall LC1414-G-C w Commercial Light Duty Safe with Mechanical Combination Lock, Grey - Wall Safes - Amazon.com

 

I had a small sentry for paper work and noticed some musty smell . However, I've owned a Sentry for 15 years for coins and had no problema .

 

Costco, Walmart, and other larger stores have a variety of safes. Prices are reasonable and vary in size. Remember, if they want it, they will get it. Good luck.

 

Mine is a 12 gauge mossberg! If they get passed that they can have it!!!

 

I have a relatively small safe that I got from Wal Mart years ago. First of all, I don't tell anyone buy my son and he has closed lips, because he will get my coin collection, plus he doesn't need the money. I have 6 dogs, 2 of which are chiweenies (part dachshund and part chihuahua and all they will do is bark, but that will wake up my Australian Shepherd, Rottweiler, and a Pit Bull that will tear their limbs off. A gun may stop 1 or maybe 2, but the third will taken them down. I also have a wire terrier that will bark to awake the dead. If they are alive after they've lost a limb, my Glock 9MM 13 rounds will finish them off.
But the way to avoid a theft of your collection or anything else of value is to keep your trap shut!

 

Like you, can't do or need the larger safes and the small ones can be carried. I have a 4-drawer metal and fire resistant file cabinet, and the the word here is concealment more than actual security. It's also in a near-constant cool/dry location. The first/front half of each drawer is filled with...files/file folders, etc...but in the back of each drawer is a part of my also-modest collection. Also, I have it situated so that you can't open the drawers enough to see beyond where the files end. If/when I need access to coins, I just remove a handful of hanging files and it's easy to see and reach in/out...plus I don't have a need to constantly be in and out so it's no inconvenience. For the random burglars who want to get in and out in good/quick time, they're likely to pass on anything they can't easily see or access, grabbing what they can from dressers for jewelry...like we have (not) much...and other easy things/locations. To each their own but this works for me.

 

except they don't

 

I have several street gangs here in Harlem that would happily challenge you for that, just because they are bored. Then they will trade your coins for a vial of crack.

 

I have read the replies, and a lot of good information is posted.

If it helps, and I guess it depends on the HO4 homeowners policy and/or Umbrella if there is one, it is worthwhile to ask the entity that would be insuring the items, including specific hobby insurers, for their advice. A Safe that is assumed is adequate, is not always enough from the insurer's perspective, and some insurers have language addressing this in their policy, and also have Safe requirements. Coverage may be denied for a particular type of Safe.

I know.

Other than that, I also know that no Safe I would buy, that was ever built would deny my wife entry, if she found out I had placed Wampum inside it.

 

OP, you mentioned urban environment. Your answer will depend on if apartment, condo, single family home, etc. Also your collecting habits matter. Are you a photographer who likes looking at pics of your coins, or like me like pawing through them occasionally? If coins not need on hand, a SDB from a bank probably the safest.

If you want them on hand, but, (again not like me), will keep your collectoin smallish, then I would think a safe mounted into your floor like in a closet might be a good idea. Someone else mentioned bolting. This is HUGE. it must be secured no matter how heavy it is. If built on wood, mounting it into the floor and then hiding the safe is a good alternative.

No safe is completely safe. Even with a safe if they know you have one they can come prepared. Best to hide it. Actually, another answer can be simply hiding. I have seen people install fake drain pipes. At the bottom of a clean out put in a bottom, and put your coins into the clean out, (screwed connection into large sewer pipe to clear clogs). Not many thieves want to check your sewage. Make it real looking and even if broken into should be safe unless you show your "friends" your cool toy. Secrecy are the top 3 most important things about security.

 

Some crack head broke into my brother-in-law's house and managed to find his coin collection under the bed and in the bottom of the closet. Nothing else was stolen except a watch I think. Absolutely no one knew he had coins (except me and my wife). Crack heads must have an uncanny "coin radar", so hiding them is not the best. Even a small un-anchored safe would have kept the coins safe in this instance. On the upside, the coins were rescued from terrible storage conditions!

 

I went to the tractor supply years ago and got a big safe and bolted it to the floor. installed lights. you can put your best coins, guns, papers. You can keep Christmas presents in there and sometimes I keep my girl scout cookies inside. $500 for a wall locker size $2000 for a refrigerator size. With enough time all of them can be breached. I bet 99% of us have blabbed about our collection to someone. just keep your mouth shut going forward.

 

Nothing is 100% guaranteed. With that in mind, I would still recommend a safe of at least 300lbs and most of all bolted to the floor.
Tell NO ONE you have a safe, and pray there is never a home invasion.

 

That's exactly what I did. At first it was for firearms...now its 2/3 coins, 1/3 firearms (no ammo). And I recall paying about $500; coulda bought a nice coin...but I feel better knowing they are now that much more difficult for someone to get at. A home alarm system is also not a bad idea; the are some decent systems out there for fair prices.

 

Me too. Now I just hope a thief will be satisfied running off with an empty safe.

 

Me too. Now I just hope the thief will be satisfied running off with an empty safe.