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 Replies: 11 / Views: 33,427 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4867 Posts |
Is it prohibited to send coins to Canada, mailed from the USA? I know people do it but is it legal? I know some countries have rules that don't allow the mailing of coins and I wouldn't want to fudge a customs declaration label. I just wouldn't feel right about it.
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
1361 Posts |
In some countries it is illegal to mail coins but you can always put numismatic material and you are not lying.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1682 Posts |
I would not think there would be a problem of sending coins from the US to Canada since even the US Mint will ship coins there. http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wc...nternationalThe link has a list of countries that they ship to and guidance about what additional fees might be levied. I have found on shipments that I receive in the UK, that I only have been charged once in the past two years and that was because of how the customs form was filled out...especially the value section. Most forms are filled out that the item is a gift and package contains hobby supplies. In the UK, these amounts are: Customs duty will not be charged if the amount of duty is less than €10 (£7). Import VAT will not be charged if the value of the goods is €45 (£36) or less The most annoying part of having the pay any duty is the flat rate £8 additional handling level that will be leveled if any fees are due by Royal Mail. So depending on the value that you are sending, you could send several smaller parcels, if your buyer is willing to pay postage for several parcels sent several days apart. This is what I normally ask people to do if they are sending me a bunch of coins. Might cost me a bit more but so far, no parcel has gone missing, one or two took forever to arrive, and only one was damaged with two coins missing. I hope this information helps. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1082 Posts |
The Canadian situation is much like the UK one; any problems are usually due to Customs forms being filled out "incorrectly", although I've never had a problem with anything sent by fellow members of this site.
One or two coins? No big deal, even up to ten or so. Stick 'em in a small padded envelope, but make sure they're at least wrapped in cling wrap so they don't rattle around inside. If you must put a C-1 form on the envelope usually a (vague) description of "hobby supplies" or even "coins for collector" will work. Check off "Gift" if you want to, but usually it is helpful. When you have to assess a value, I know you may want to be truthful, but it really helps no one except Customs if they decide to assess duty -- it won't be helpful for a possible insurance claim or anything unless it is indeed insured, but last time I checked there was no Post Office anywhere that would insure coins, anyway. In any event, I think "coins for collectors" and "hobby materials" are duty-free anyway because of their educational aspects.
Occasionally, one runs across an untrained postal employee that sends the package to Customs where they connect with a Customs Officer that doesn't know their regulations and duty is assessed. Canada Post then chimes in with an extra $5 fee that you have to pay along with the wrongly-assessed duty, but an appeal against both charges can be filed and usually results in receiving a refund in the form of a Postal Money Order.
Larger shipments of coins are usually no problem either -- the small C-1 form can be used up to a weight of 1 kg (2.2 lbs.).
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4867 Posts |
Often I have had coins sent to me via a stamp and a business envelope, which I have no problem with as long as its packed good and the ones I have received from Canada had no customs declaration form attached. Is there a weight limit?
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Moderator
 United States
16677 Posts |
I always send coins to Canada and have never had a problem. I just fill out the appropriate Customs forms and that's it. Why wouldn't it be legal anywhere in the world?
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Why wouldn't it be legal anywhere in the world? You'd be surprised. Start reading here: http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/ab_001.htmAlthough Canada specifically allows collector coins, many countries (such as Great Britain) only allow specific methods of shipment, and others (such as Australia) prohibit inbound coin shipments altogether. It would probably be a surprise to anyone who doesn't regularly ship internationally just how many rules we bend to do so every day. |
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Moderator
Australia
16810 Posts |
The Australian regulation is intended to stop shipments of cash, for money laundering purposes. It is not intended to stop collectable coins, but it often does, since there's no qualification to "coins" from the regulations Australian Customs has given out.
Strangely, it's perfectly OK for people in Britain, Europe or Asia to send coins to Australia - they certainly aren't stopped here at our end. Nor is there any prohibition here on sending collectable coins to the US (unless they're of "cultural significance" - like holey dollars). It's only the USPS that refuses to accept them for shipment here; they say they won't change the regulations until Australian Customs clears the situation up for them. We've tried lobbying them for an exemption for collectable coins, but Customs are a notoriously conservative bureaucracy and don't like changing their rules. When two rulebound bureaucracies collide, things like this happen.
We collectors down here who order coins from the US run into this problem all the time. I tell people to put "Numismatic items" on the label, since most USPS workers who are bright enough to know what "numismatic" means are also bright enough the know the regulations aren't supposed to apply to them. I've only had one seller say that that didn't work when they tried it.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1151 Posts |
I have shipped to both Australia and Canada with no problems to forum members. If I recall, the one to Australia did take a detour thru South America, but it did make it. I used Numismatic materials as the description.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1248 Posts |
Anyone declaring the contents as coins must be out of their mind!!  From any country to any country! I do have a lot of experience with shipping and receiving coins from all over the world. However, today I have little time to go in to details. In the near furture I will start a topic about shipping coins and insurance. Insurance is the biggest RIPP OFF...  as they never ( seldom) pay when a claim is submitted HHB |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day, if shipping from U.S. of A., USPS 1st class is the best way to go.
USPS "Priority" is very slow, and more expensive.
UPS can't find Australia. Really.
Peter in Oz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4867 Posts |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 33,427 |
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Posted 08/02/2009 12:07 pm
