I'm pretty sure it is an Indian Casino, but it happens to be the 3rd largest Casino in the World.. Or was. It is off of I-35 N on the Tx/Ok Border.
Just my two ¢ - I purchased my gun safe years ago. While I do not recall all of the ratings, my main concern was theft so the size of the walls (esp side and back - even though they are unaccessible as the safe is in a recess), the size and quantity of the bolts, and all mechanical. Then, to give the would be thief a little trouble I added about 50K Lincolns (~350lbs) in the bottom of the safe. This added to the 750lbs for the safe makes movement near impossible. Even if it were unbolted, it would take a Mack truck to tip it over. Add that to an alarm system with 4 additional sirens mounted in the attic, facing vents and/or sofit's (sp) and I think most thieves will think twice before attempting it. All that said - if someone were to break in today, EVERY coin would be in a bank vault by tomorrow. My point - once a thief knows you have a coin collection the will not stop. The bigger/better the safe, the more they want to try... Safe's are great for easy access... but, that doesn't apply to just the owner.
You think a thief is going to stand there and keep working on a good safe for an hour while a good home security system is blaring and contacting the cops and/or homeowner? I don't think so. I have experience with them. The alarms these places use are so loud and ear piercing that you really don't want to be anywhere near the area. Even if you're supposed to be there while they're only doing a test. At night I think you could hear one going off from a block away or more. Add an armed homeowner to this situation and you would hope the burglar would have enough sense to move on to an easier target.
Coin Safes The key thing with thefts is opportunity, liklihood of that occuring, the amount of energy and money you are putting in to having security with what you own. I had a safe in a garage apartment on a busy street corner, my brother kept warning that it was a high risk situation. Who knew? I get my mail at a mail provider, hardly anyone knew I had it there. Most safes do not have big bucks valuables in them. I never feared theft when I had over $100K in a self storage unit in a facility that had never been broken into. Bank safe deposit boxes are notoriously safe. Does anyone have statistics on the number of break-ins where precious metals figure prominently? There has been no mention of the usefulness of guns for security purposes. Open carry is legal in many states, that right there--a gun on the hip when walking around would tell the world not to fool around with you. There are levels of security and insurance necessary depending on the value of the collection. I would think anything in the millions would require more dedicated measures. I found the movie "The Italian Job" with Donald Sutherland to be quite illuminating on the lengths that criminals will go to gain possession of many millions in gold bullion. Like most of such movies, law enforcement was completely ineffectual; that is one big problem with precious metals--the underground economy will always find ways to buy and sell gold without asking where it came from.
The best safe you could buy to use at your home would be a UL tested TXTL 60x6 and a UL class 125 for media. But I know of no company that makes one as of yet. A good, class 125 media safe will run you at least $3K A TXTL 60x6 safe weight start around 3,000 pounds and prices would start somwhere near $20k+ Underwriters Laboratories uses 10 classifications or ratings for burglary-resistant safes. They are, in increasing order of protection: TL-15; Deposit Safe; TL-30; TRTL-30; TL-15X6; TL-30X6; TRTL-15X6; TRTL-30 X6; TRTL-60X6; TXTL-60X6. TL means a safe is tool-resistant, TR means it's torch-resistant, TRTL indicates that it's tool- and torch-resistant, and TXTL stands for torch-, tool-, and explosives-resistant.The numbers 15, 30, and 60 represent the number of minutes a safe will withstand a series of attacks. X6 means a safe provides equal protection on all six sides (including top and bottom). Also UL only reviews them every 7 years. In the end it all comes down to how much you can afford to spend. Or want to spend!
Each person has to do a cost/benefit analysis for their particular situation. I actually considered a TL-15, but a few things stopped me. I was afraid it would crack the floor joists of my old house, I didn't think an 800# safe could be maneuvered into the particular closet I needed it in, and I'd have to get it moved twice when I remodel. When I did my own particular cost/benefit analysis some of the things I took into account were: Burglaries are rare in my area. Even more so in the blocks surrounding my house. I don't know of any house within a couple of blocks of mine ever being burglarized ... that's over decades. The value of what I plan to put in the safe. Someone is usually home. I have a dog. She isn't very tough, but she makes a lot of noise. The position of my neighbors' houses leave no blind spots of entry. I have easy access to guns and I know how to use them. The safe will be in a closet surrounded by plaster walls, so it would be a little tough to "work" on.
I received and installed the Stack-On P-019-MB-E Premier Executive Safe. I have to say I'm very impressed with it. It seems to be a well-built safe. It even has a Sargent&Greenleaf lock. The Stack-On is a fire safe, but I put a Honeywell 1102 fire chest inside to protect the plastic slabs. That's about as big a fire chest as will fit because you have to put it in longways then turn it sideways, otherwise the safe's door won't close. Once you do that there's still a nice bit of room left, plus a shelf that's big enough to hold something like a handgun or two.
IIRC, Hugh Wood, the insurance company which provides coin insurance for ANA members, specifies a TL-15 (or better) safe.
Fake safe !!!!! Some people use fake electrical boxes & refrigerators to hide coins from th bad-guys. Check out this nifty invention which will certainly fool a criminal. Here's the link: http://newhaven.craigslist.org/app/2840112372.html
Smitty - great post! And thanks for the information you already shared. Perhaps rather than all-in-one, think layered, and holistic: - When remodeling, or sooner, consider installing a security system which includes the normal burgulary protection, but includes fire and water. You can get these via service, or a DIY solution (hook sensors from your hard-wired smoke alarms, and wireless water sensors into a system you buy from Newegg). I've seen well-rated systems for under $500. (monitoring costs extra, but may be worth it to you) - Deterants also work - for under $50, you can get yard signs, window stickers, automated switches for lights and fake cameras. - Perhaps go with two small safes. One small one to keep lower (heat) for media, and one to keep higher for bullion. Getting specific tools for the job may cost you less and do a better job. - Lastly, for those who don't like bank safe-deposit boxes (myself included), there are a few, and I would suspect more soon, Safe and Deposit Companies, which take over old banks, upgrade the security, and only are depositories, not subject to the Banking, Tax and Homeland Security laws/rules currently in existance. There's a new one just opened in Colorado. Hope that helps!
