I just got back from the post office, where I tried to send, about a week and a half ago, a box of coins to India. There were no high value items, but there were some 40% silver Ike's in the box. I labeled the box "numismatic Items" and insured it. When I went to the post office today, they gave me back the box, which was mangled to h**l and they had me check the box to see if any of the contents were missing. The only items missing from the box were the presidential dollars and all of the silver coins. The postal employee told me that it probably got caught in a machine and some of the contents fell out, but I find that hard to believe as everything was in an envelope or 2X2 taped to a cardboard sleeve, and only some or the items were missing. The post office said I can file a clam against the lost items, but how should I determine value? What is the current value of an unc pres dollar? Or of a 1972 & 1973 40% silver Ike? THe post office employee told me that I should not label boxes as "numismatic items" any more because more people are figuring out what that means because of the commercials that the mint is running about collecting coins. She said that I should try something like "sample metallic rounds" or something like that. What is the best thing to label a box contents as? and how should I figure insurance value on the coins I send? Thanks, David
Use redbook for the values. Use the UNC or higher grades as your basis. For how to label the contents, just label them collectibles or even the more generic gifts.
Post offices differ in their interpretation of the rules believe me. I've had some locally tell me that coins can't be insured PERIOD. Others have said I need to get them appraised by a professional dealer. If I have a heavier package I usually go with camera equipment. Of course if the box comes back as yours did they'll know it wasn't true. At least if it's mailed in the U.S. you can track the heck out of it. This is a big reason I no longer mess with out of country packages. Not worth the hassle. Now, just as a sidenote, if you send currency at any time I always mark it Photos Enclosed. A lot of us have been doing that for years. Good luck as with the USPS you'll need it.
Just out of curiosity clembpo, why do you mark it photos enclosed? D_larson Why didnt you ship UPS or FedX instead of the notorious USPS?
I used to do a lot of trading of modern notes with people around the country. We all had notes from different districts etc. depening on where you lived. A lot of us also had buyers for said notes in our neck of the woods. We traded at face value so if I sent $10 out in singles I wasn't going through a huge production for it. I'd reinforce with cardboard, slip it into a regular letter size envelope and mail it away as photos enclosed so they wouldn't bend the notes. Forgot to mention I also marked as Please DO NOT BEND. Very effective. An unsrupulous postal employee really doesn't care about photos, they want money AND the notes always arrived safe and sound for the cost of a stamp and envelope.
