Public Service Announcement: The Tsa And Flying With Rolled Coins

I was traveling with one of my parrots once in a travel cage with clear views, and they tried to get me to send the bird through the x-ray machine :) Seriously. They were kinda annoyed when I chuckled and asked for the private screening.

It makes sense, really. Going through an x-ray machine, a roll of coins will just look like a metal cylinder, which could be anything from a CO2 cartridge to a pipe bomb. I didn't know they could detect different types of metal so this is very good advice.

Sure, no problem! I figured that there were probably other individuals here who might have this happen to them too, so a little forewarning could prove useful.

Thanks! I did indeed. I was able to obtain 19 40% silver half dollars with very little effort (all of them came from non-box sources), so I was quite happy with the overall results.




Yes, in retrospect, I recognize that it does. I couldn't quite tell if it was the rolls together or the roll of 40% silver that concerned them, but they did initially ask me if I was carrying silver. So, maybe they're actually on the lookout for items made out of silver (since it would be quite the non-standard material for an unscrupulous individual to craft something from).

The necessary repacking was the main reason I asked for a private screening. With the hustle and bustle of the standard security line, I just thought there would be too much pressure to toss everything back in the bags as quickly as possible if I conceded to have the search done in public.




Yes, I certainly understand why it concerned them. It was odd that they referred to it as "heavy metals," though; I thought that traditionally referred to things like the radioactive elements. It was also interesting that they immediately knew I had silver in my carry-ons.

Ha ha, definitely not! Fortunately I just collect U.S. coins. :)




That's definitely funny. One would think that a parrot doesn't have much "room" for someone to potentially stash something inside of its body!




I honestly didn't think it would be a problem, so now I know for next time. I just didn't want everyone to know I was carrying silver and/ or cash. Fortunately, like your experience, the search wasn't too bad overall- just surprising.

Me too!




In retrospect, it certainly does. The overall scenario just didn't occur to me when I tossed the coins in my bag.

Me neither! The very first thing they asked me when they pulled me off to the side was if I was carrying silver (without anyone opening the bag). So, the machine they use can detect both that- and probably the other precious metals too. As I stated above, they were somewhat vague with respect to whether it was the roll of silver that was the issue, and/or the rolls of regular clad half dollars.

I'm happy to help. I thought it would help if others had access to this information, since I don't believe the TSA publishes anything about it.




Ha ha, something tells me that the TSA agents wouldn't have that good of a sense of humor. Those were, at one point, their exact words too; I thought it odd that they referred to silver, copper, and nickel like that.

Thanks! Fortunately it wasn't too much of a hassle (besides the top-to-bottom search), and I did have a little time to spare. I guess that's why they always say to allow extra time for security! I had no idea something like that would happen.

Wow, I can certainly imagine. With respect to my own bag's x-ray, the technician looking at the scans asked me what I had in my bag that was shaped like a heart. For some reason, that specific shape deeply concerned them, but I honestly had no idea what they were talking about. Fortunately they eventually searched both my bags anyway, so I didn't have to stand there and try to figure it out.

I've always found it is best to let them know what you are transporting upfront and to ask for a private screening. It has always worked out ok for me and with minimal inconvenience.

He most likely flipped through your book to make sure it wasn't a hollowed out one. Many places sell books were the majority of the pages (usually save for the last and first few pages) have a large chunk cut out in the middle, the intention being to hide anything from valuables to a whiskey flask to a gun.

YN, I think it was more of a volume thing, he had these rolled up in coin rolls, which are cylindrical, which could have been a few things. if you were to toss some pocket change in the tray to be scanned they are expecting this, and would probably not have had such issues.

I've carried rolls of halves in my carry-on bag through airport security numerous times and every time have been called aside so TSA can hand-search my carry-on. It actually makes me feel more safe to be called aside given the rolled coins undoubtedly look suspicious when viewed by x-ray.