I'm going to be sending about 40 coins to a collector in France. He's sending me some coins too. I'm sure this happens every day in the World Coin community. My questions are: Do I or does he have to pay duty on these coins? I assume the customs import duty rules vary country-by-country. Is there some place on-line that has these regulations in easy to understand form? Do I have to declare these common ordinary coins, and, if I do, does that alert postal thieves? Should I use UPS or FEDEX or some other company like it instead of the US Post Office? Help! Paying $20 or more to send a few coins to France is a good way to utterly discourage these exchanges. The USPS letter size 1st Class International rate of $2.74 for up to three ounces is reasonable. However they talk about "non-machineable surcharges" for lumpy or too stiff letters. Has anyone got the definitive guide on how to do this safe and cheap? Help! Thanks cal.sales
I don't think there is a duty unless the value is over like $500 or something like that. Registered mail is the more secure way to go, but that will cost you over $10.00. Just sending a letter filled with coins through regular international mail has "steal me" written all over it.
It really depends on the value of the coins as to what effect customs is going to have. But yes, the customs rules do apply, and you do not want to try and get around them. Nor do you want to ship them in an envelope - package them correctly and use a box. I don't think there is a problem with France, but some countries do not even allow coins to be shipped in - or out - of the country. Do it right, visit the Post Office and ask them how and what you need to do. And be 100% honest or you may not like what happens.
I have never had a customs issue with inbound coins coming into the USA, but I know that some countries, like Belgium, France etc. do charge customs duties on the declared amount of the package over a certain threshold.
FWIW if you are based in the us. i got heaps of coins from the french mint never a problem and never had to pay a dime but i never sent anything to france
Writing "coins" on the customs form absolutely does alert postal thieves. I have shipped many coins to Europe, Australia and even Africa. The one time I wrote "coins" on the customs form, they never got there. And I know many people who have had the same experience. I have sent dozens of packages and declared "hobby supplies" and had no problems. It may be different at other post offices though.
"Stamped metal disks" helps too. Before the 2001 anthrax scare, a couple of years before, I got a load of dosh from someone in Scotland with a wry sense of humour that wrote on the back of the envelope "Hazardous but well packaged medical samples - No Value" and it got here just fine.
