numismatic advice
June 24, 2024 12:08 AM Subscribe
How should I ship a large number of coins of numismatic value, from one US destination to another?
A relative passed away and I'm in charge of settling her estate. She willed a large number of coins to her brother. He is not willing/able to come to California to get them, so I gotta ship 'em to Illinois.
Here's what I have: something like seven 1.5" three-ring binders full of coins in little plastic sleeves (picture the three-ring sleeves you put baseball cards in, but for coins that have been stapled into little square cardboard-and-plastic keepers). This is many hundreds of coins. They all fit in a small-to-medium cardboard box and all told weigh about 45 lbs.
The coins are primarily US but also some Canadian, from the 1840s through the early 2000s. Lots of pennies and quarters and nickels and dimes and half dollars and misprinted and mis-punched coins with buffalo and torches and Ladies Liberty and whatever, Thomas Jeffersons with the little extra bit of nose and FDRs with accidentally a second forehead or whatever else. My aunt valued them at something like $10k to $15, which means maybe they are worth something like $5k to $8k.
I have these specific questions, and I no longer trust the broader Internet to get me the right answers to any questions that matter:
1. Am I correct that USPS Registered Mail is the correct way to go?
2. Do I need to worry about packaging specifics beyond "make sure it's good and closed and taped up at all the seams and corners?" So do I have to use specific tape or worry about waterproofing or anything like that?
3. How does insurance work with whatever is the right shipping method?
4. Should I worry about cost or is this one of those things where there's only one right way to do it, and the cost is the cost?
5. Do you have novel thoughts on other ways I could go about this? (Driving is an option but only a last option if it's by far the best option.)\\
I also have maybe 200-300lbs worth of those shitty fucking coins and medallions and goofy things in commemorative boxes that are sold by the Franklin Mint or the US American Patriotic Coin Appreciators and NRA Members Naive Consumer Society Mint on the back of Parade magazine, and these have been willed to the same brother, and I'll ship them the same damn way probably, even though they are stupid little pieces of garbage covered in silver foil and yes this includes those fake 9/11 commemorative "coins" that America's Mayor Adolf Giuliani got in trouble for back in the day.
A relative passed away and I'm in charge of settling her estate. She willed a large number of coins to her brother. He is not willing/able to come to California to get them, so I gotta ship 'em to Illinois.
Here's what I have: something like seven 1.5" three-ring binders full of coins in little plastic sleeves (picture the three-ring sleeves you put baseball cards in, but for coins that have been stapled into little square cardboard-and-plastic keepers). This is many hundreds of coins. They all fit in a small-to-medium cardboard box and all told weigh about 45 lbs.
The coins are primarily US but also some Canadian, from the 1840s through the early 2000s. Lots of pennies and quarters and nickels and dimes and half dollars and misprinted and mis-punched coins with buffalo and torches and Ladies Liberty and whatever, Thomas Jeffersons with the little extra bit of nose and FDRs with accidentally a second forehead or whatever else. My aunt valued them at something like $10k to $15, which means maybe they are worth something like $5k to $8k.
I have these specific questions, and I no longer trust the broader Internet to get me the right answers to any questions that matter:
1. Am I correct that USPS Registered Mail is the correct way to go?
2. Do I need to worry about packaging specifics beyond "make sure it's good and closed and taped up at all the seams and corners?" So do I have to use specific tape or worry about waterproofing or anything like that?
3. How does insurance work with whatever is the right shipping method?
4. Should I worry about cost or is this one of those things where there's only one right way to do it, and the cost is the cost?
5. Do you have novel thoughts on other ways I could go about this? (Driving is an option but only a last option if it's by far the best option.)\\
I also have maybe 200-300lbs worth of those shitty fucking coins and medallions and goofy things in commemorative boxes that are sold by the Franklin Mint or the US American Patriotic Coin Appreciators and NRA Members Naive Consumer Society Mint on the back of Parade magazine, and these have been willed to the same brother, and I'll ship them the same damn way probably, even though they are stupid little pieces of garbage covered in silver foil and yes this includes those fake 9/11 commemorative "coins" that America's Mayor Adolf Giuliani got in trouble for back in the day.
The property is his so it seems like he should make the shipping arrangements, so he can decide how much he wants to spend on insurance and quality of service. Unless there's something in the terms of your executorship that says these decisions are your responsibility?
posted by trig at 1:01 AM on June 24
posted by trig at 1:01 AM on June 24
Response by poster: Won't threadsit heavily, but just to answer trig, basically if I don't figure out the details and make a proposal to her brother, the coins will be sitting in my bedroom much longer than I want them to. I'll make sure he takes care of part of the logistical and financial responsibility here, but the planning is something I have to do.
posted by kensington314 at 1:05 AM on June 24
posted by kensington314 at 1:05 AM on June 24
For registered mail you need to seal with paper tape, not plastic. They stamp it all over so the receiver can see whether it's been opened. Registered is slow but sure. Insurance is much cheaper because the risk of loss is so small.
posted by fritley at 4:11 AM on June 24 [1 favorite]
posted by fritley at 4:11 AM on June 24 [1 favorite]
I would split it up in to 2-3 batches. This gives you extra insurance and is a kindness to your mail carriers, and shouldn't cost much more.
Also there's a nearly identical ask about moving (more) coins from a year or so back if you want to look at other answers. Interestingly a lot of people recommend against driving for various reasons.
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:22 AM on June 24 [1 favorite]
Also there's a nearly identical ask about moving (more) coins from a year or so back if you want to look at other answers. Interestingly a lot of people recommend against driving for various reasons.
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:22 AM on June 24 [1 favorite]
4. Should I worry about cost or is this one of those things where there's only one right way to do it, and the cost is the cost?
I'd simply put them into flat rate boxes - however many it took to fit the collection - and then insure the delivery via USPS.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:15 AM on June 24 [3 favorites]
I'd simply put them into flat rate boxes - however many it took to fit the collection - and then insure the delivery via USPS.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:15 AM on June 24 [3 favorites]
It’s not actually worth that much money- every day IT shops get big boxes of laptops delivered that are worth more.
The biggest risk is porch pirates. I would probably ship it via UPS or FedEx so it could be shipped to a nearby UPS Store or FedEx Office storefront for pickup.
posted by rockindata at 8:25 AM on June 24 [2 favorites]
The biggest risk is porch pirates. I would probably ship it via UPS or FedEx so it could be shipped to a nearby UPS Store or FedEx Office storefront for pickup.
posted by rockindata at 8:25 AM on June 24 [2 favorites]
My aunt valued them at something like $10k to $15k
For something like this you want a recent written valuation from a reputable source, should the worst happen the insurance company will wriggle out of making any payout unless you have an impeccable paper trail for everything.
posted by Lanark at 9:02 AM on June 24 [4 favorites]
For something like this you want a recent written valuation from a reputable source, should the worst happen the insurance company will wriggle out of making any payout unless you have an impeccable paper trail for everything.
posted by Lanark at 9:02 AM on June 24 [4 favorites]
Best answer: I was "the brother" in a similar scenario. Because the coins are still cash, you'll find that all of the shipping options have some additional caveats/requirements. At the time (about 10 years ago), USPS registered mail was the best option; FedEx may be viable now. The coins were shipped to me in batches via USPS registered mail (e.g. signature required). I lived in a large city. My mail carrier would leave a paper receipt in the mailbox informing me that I had registered mail, I would go down to the mail facility (not a regular post office) and present the receipt, show ID, and sign for the boxes. In hindsight, I'd take the same approach today.
posted by BlueTongueLizard at 9:03 AM on June 24 [2 favorites]
posted by BlueTongueLizard at 9:03 AM on June 24 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: And so the way that Registered Mail works is that you have to pick it up in person so there's confirmation that the recipient is the right person, and that they got it?
posted by kensington314 at 11:10 AM on June 24
posted by kensington314 at 11:10 AM on June 24
Pirate Ship offers moderate-to-large discounts over paying USPS/UPS/FedEx directly, for the exact same service. It's very popular amongst folks who sell on Mercari/Poshmark/similar and I personally wouldn't hesitate to go through them if it's favorable, which it probably will be.
posted by teremala at 11:40 AM on June 24
posted by teremala at 11:40 AM on June 24
Best answer: It has been a couple of years since I've used registered mail; the USPS has a good FAQ, though. You are buying two different products: registered mail, and insurance. They have various options, like restricted delivery (only deliver to a specific person) and hold for pickup. You could specify that they only deliver to the brother, and you could specify hold for pickup. Take a look at Registered Mail The Basics and Extra Services.
For future readers, I want to reiterate the point that your (U.S.) coin collection is still considered cash money, and most couriers won't handle cash, which matters if you want to insure the coins. The USPS requires you to use registered mail: "Non-commercial customers mailing cash amounts up to and over $500, and commercial customers mailing cash amounts up to $500, can continue to use services other than Registered Mail. However, only Registered Mail includes insurance payable at full value up to the limit of $50,000." Based on a casual google search, UPS will not handle "Bank bills, notes or currency". I couldn't figure out what FedEx does.
Your 200-300 pounds of "coins and medallions and goofy things in commemorative boxes" are a different situation since they are presumably *not* cash, just collectibles. I would suggest you check that collection for commemorative coins issued by the US Mint. At a minimum they are worth face value. That is also a popular way to buy gold, silver, and platinum. A US Mint "American Buffalo One Ounce Gold Proof Coin" has a face value of $50, but has one ounce of gold, so its melt value is whatever gold is trading at ($2300 or so).
posted by BlueTongueLizard at 4:32 PM on June 24 [1 favorite]
For future readers, I want to reiterate the point that your (U.S.) coin collection is still considered cash money, and most couriers won't handle cash, which matters if you want to insure the coins. The USPS requires you to use registered mail: "Non-commercial customers mailing cash amounts up to and over $500, and commercial customers mailing cash amounts up to $500, can continue to use services other than Registered Mail. However, only Registered Mail includes insurance payable at full value up to the limit of $50,000." Based on a casual google search, UPS will not handle "Bank bills, notes or currency". I couldn't figure out what FedEx does.
Your 200-300 pounds of "coins and medallions and goofy things in commemorative boxes" are a different situation since they are presumably *not* cash, just collectibles. I would suggest you check that collection for commemorative coins issued by the US Mint. At a minimum they are worth face value. That is also a popular way to buy gold, silver, and platinum. A US Mint "American Buffalo One Ounce Gold Proof Coin" has a face value of $50, but has one ounce of gold, so its melt value is whatever gold is trading at ($2300 or so).
posted by BlueTongueLizard at 4:32 PM on June 24 [1 favorite]
Best answer: When I worked at the gold shop we pretty regularly shipped actual gold via USPS. We just made sure that the packages didn't clink, dropped them off at the post office in person, and got a receipt*. This was pre-pandemic and if the US Postal Service has gotten much shittier since then, it may not be a good idea. Still we never had problems (we also never shipped anything worth more than several thousand dollars this way).
If I were you, I would 1) assume that your aunt's unofficial valuation is off by at least a factor of 3 (people who know a lot about coin valuation would never, ever, ever buy that Franklin Mint stuff), 2) take it, including the Franklin Mint stuff, to your local coin shop to find out if it is even worth anything significant at all (if it were our shop we'd happily give you a very rough estimate after a quick look, pointing out the things that were worth having evaluated or slabbed or otherwise had some extra value; or write up a detailed estimate over a day or two if you thought you wanted to sell to us)** 3) then take everything out of the binders (keeping it in the coin holders) and pack it up tightly and ship it off USPS, with the appropriate insurance for the estimated bid, if your brother still wants it.
->Most of the time when we got collections described this way it was really only the silver coins that were worth anything ("junk silver") for their silver content. Lots of what people think are misprints or doubles or whatever are not unusual, and hardly ever a rare coin. And if they are a rare penny they generally need to be in pretty good shape to have monetary value beyond face value. Most of the Franklin Mint stuff we'd crack out of the plastic and drop in our change drawer if it wasn't actual silver.
*postal cashier to me one time: ooh, this is heavy! What's in it? Me: uh... antique doorknobs.
** this would still not be any sort of official certification of value, just our bid. An official certification usually costs money.
posted by oneirodynia at 6:18 PM on June 24
If I were you, I would 1) assume that your aunt's unofficial valuation is off by at least a factor of 3 (people who know a lot about coin valuation would never, ever, ever buy that Franklin Mint stuff), 2) take it, including the Franklin Mint stuff, to your local coin shop to find out if it is even worth anything significant at all (if it were our shop we'd happily give you a very rough estimate after a quick look, pointing out the things that were worth having evaluated or slabbed or otherwise had some extra value; or write up a detailed estimate over a day or two if you thought you wanted to sell to us)** 3) then take everything out of the binders (keeping it in the coin holders) and pack it up tightly and ship it off USPS, with the appropriate insurance for the estimated bid, if your brother still wants it.
->Most of the time when we got collections described this way it was really only the silver coins that were worth anything ("junk silver") for their silver content. Lots of what people think are misprints or doubles or whatever are not unusual, and hardly ever a rare coin. And if they are a rare penny they generally need to be in pretty good shape to have monetary value beyond face value. Most of the Franklin Mint stuff we'd crack out of the plastic and drop in our change drawer if it wasn't actual silver.
*postal cashier to me one time: ooh, this is heavy! What's in it? Me: uh... antique doorknobs.
** this would still not be any sort of official certification of value, just our bid. An official certification usually costs money.
posted by oneirodynia at 6:18 PM on June 24
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posted by kensington314 at 12:17 AM on June 24