I'm Thinking Of Getting A Fireproof Safe For My Coins, But..

I always say hide your valuables in plain sight, disguised as something else or inside a cheap object. Safes are for show, as decoys, so put dummy valuables in your safe or lead shot to weight it down. One crowbar to the exposed hinge and your stuff is gone. That's my take on that.

You can buy fire and waterproof safes at your local Sams club.

If you want to prevent moisture buildup.. stick them in a zip lock bag with one or two folded paper towels, and moisture in the bag will got to the towels. It's cheap and very effective.
Some people I know have used rice instead of a paper towel, rice will absorb a ton of moisture. It's water and fire proof so no insects..

The big box home improvement and sports equipment stores are a decent place to get a reasonably-priced safe if you want to lock up your .22 long gun and keep your kids from getting at your Playboy stash. However they aren't much for theft deterrent or fire protection (relatively).

Bolting them down, as edweather said, is very important and increases their theft protective value substantially. Most thieves would prefer to roll your safe out and crack it on their own turf rather than hack at it in your house while the cops are on their way.

Consider what the value is of what you're trying to protect. Then do your research and spend the appropriate money. Think of it like auto insurance. No one likes to pay it but it's part of driving a car. And you typically tailor your insurance to what you're willing to pay vs what you're willing to lose. Similar with a safe but in a one-time payment. Also, layer your protection. Get a security system if you're going to have a safe. Yes it takes the cops a while to show up sometimes, but if your safe is bolted down and has a good T rating, it's likely that it'll still be locked and standing when the cops get there and chase the idiots off (or hopefully arrest them).

Also, you may be better off taking advantage of a free bank safe deposit box that comes with many checking accounts if your stash is relatively small. Or even if you have to pay $20/month for a bigger box, how long would that take to pay for a $2000 safe? Answer: 100 months. That's a long time. And you'll likely move at least once in 8 years.

Your home safe is in place to prevent the amateurs from getting at your stuff. It will stop the neighborhood kids, the nosy ex wife and may save your stuff from a fire.

The professional is a whole other story. If the professional wants your stuff he will get it. You may slow him down but he'll eventually get in to it. You may even be more than happy to open it for him, too.

I keep mine with my guns. Lots of moisture absorption products and such. Half the safe is guns, the other half coins. They never mix.

As to moisture, everything above is correct but also: open it now and then!

The biggest deterrent to the casual thief is weight - they probably aren't going to try to force open your safe there, but if they can easily carry it away, they probably will. So if it weighs under 400 lbs and you don't have it full, fill it up with metal so that it is as heavy as you can get it. Obviously there really is no absolutely safe weight - two men and a fork truck can move an amazing amount - but the heavier, the better. It's a curve that works in your favor for every added pound.

Or they rip the bolts right out..

But yes, any obstacle buys time and passing time makes them nervous.

I leave a big jar of change in plain site. It probably comes to less than $100 but it looks impressive and of course if this really was a snatch and bolt, it's somewhat heavy and cumbersome, making it harder to carry more of other things. Cash is very attractive because it doesn't need to be fenced. It might not work, but it's worth leaving out, I think.