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 Replies: 21 / Views: 3,413 |
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
Hi everyone.
First time post. I'm very impressed with the quality of this forum and wish there was something like this in the old days.
I've been a collector of coins and paper money since the early 60s. Nothing like finding an old coin in a dresser to pique one's curiosity
My collection has consisted of American and European coins with some American and foreign paper money.
I'm trying to find the safest, yet cheapest way to ship my coin collection across the country. Currently it's all in a safe deposit box.
Well, I need to move my collection 2000 miles and don't really want to drive for 5 days with it and have to worry about an auto breakdown or theft in a hotel.
Sending the collection by post and insuring it seems to be the most sensible method. But it seems that these days packages go missing a lot. So to collect on a claim, one would need some kind of documentation as to the value.
But I have hundreds of different and undocumented and unvalued stuff. It would be a nightmare to have to catalog and value the collection before moving and I don't live there anymore.
So I would like to ask those of you out there with experience of having to collect on an insurance claim for some opinions on how to protect oneself against loss?
Also which shipping method is the safest and most reliable way to ship? It would be probably be a week before I could pick up the collection. The collection would be the most vulnerable when waiting to be picked up.
Sorry if this has all been discussed before.
Thanks again.
Pete
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
Welcome Pete,
It might help if you could give some idea as to the bulk/weight of the coins to be transported.
Some ideas from the members will follow.
Good luck.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2815 Posts |
You will probably want to ship your collection via Registered Mail. It's going to be expensive, but you'll have the most peace of mind with this service. Your package(s) will be under "lock and key" while in transit.
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Valued Member
United States
335 Posts |
Thinking if you over insure, this could be a tipoff for postal thieves?
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Valued Member
United States
166 Posts |
I would be uncomfortable shipping any items without being able to prove what the contents were, and the value of those items. In the event of a loss, you will be asked for bills, an inventory, etc., in order to process your claim. Is is practical for you to return at a later date to retrieve the collection from the box? This way you could make personally transporting the collection your main focus.
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New Member
 United States
7 Posts |
Well, the collection would be 10-15 pounds. I will have to make 2 or 3 trips to complete the move.
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Valued Member
United States
166 Posts |
I understand your difficulty. At the same time it is important that you do not minimize the need for documentation. No matter how you send it, or insure it, the insurer is not going to make it easy for you to collect on your claim, in the event you should have one. It's not right, but that's the way it is. You say you lost a BU 1909S VBD, the insurer is going to say "how do we know it wasn't a VF30". Myself,I find little comfort in insurance..
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
 to CCF. I say take it with you and keep an eye on it as much as possible.You will be your own insurance policy  John1  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Well, the collection would be 10-15 pounds. I will have to make 2 or 3 trips to complete the move. I don't see a problem. Not sure how your going to travel but if your going to make several trips, and the total of your collection is about 15 pounds, just take about 5 pounds with you each time. A small brief case should easily hold 5 pounds and that would be easy to handle. Of course if your flying, you might be asked to check it. If your driving, you could take that with you to restaurants and a motel or hotel. OR you could have me come over and pick it all up. Then there would be no problem since you'll never see them again.  Not sure if anyone is going with you but if so, that would make it easier to have a few others take some of the weight with also a small brief case. Sending by UPS or other such organizations is possible but risky. I use UPS to send toys to relatives in other states and as a rule, about 85% get there undamaged. Unfortunately that means about 15% get damaged. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Whatever you decide to do, get photos first. A digital camera and a baggie full of flash drives will be enough for your records. The ANA offers several benefits, one of which is reduced insurance rates for coin collections. You might want to look into that. The insurance company may offer tips on moving your valuables. That's all the advice I have to offer since I've never had to move my coins. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
If your going to make 2 or 3 trips then I'm assuming you'll be driving. I agree with john 1, take
it all with you. you don't want to leave any of your collection ( I'm assuming in an empty house )there for the taking. any kind of postal service would make me very nervous.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
10 or 15 pounds should physically go with you, even if you're flying. If you must ship, break it up into more than one chunk and ship Overnight.
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
Any opinions as to the safety of USPS vs UPS vs Fedex? I just had a problem with Fedex today. Couldn't bother to ring the doorbell. Had to leave a missed delivery sticker on the door.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Drive them and ship only what is really valuable, send via USPS Registered/insured only. 1913 Liberty nickels have been sent this way. If your collection is really, really valuable you can look into a brinks move, where they come get the package and insure it's safe delivery, but that will cost a bunch, it's the way many of the auction firms and big coin dealers take million dollar inventories to shows. "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
Any opinions as to the safety of USPS vs UPS vs Fedex? Sure, USPS Registered mail is the absolute safest way to ship. Even the private insurers agree. When you compare their rates for insuring packages shipped by the various services you'll find their rates for Registered mail package are half or less than the other methods. Why? Because they know the package will get there. The Post office knows it too. The insurance rates for Registered are much lower than for other mail services, and they are willing to insured Registered for up to $25K but the maximum for anything else they will only insure to $5K. Why? Because it WILL get there. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Leave the collection with a trusted friend. Visit them at a later date.
Pick the collection up at that time. You could carry the most valuable coins on a return flight on your person, say six coins in a small coin wallet, and most of the less valuable coins in carry on hand luggage. Coin books could be included in stowed baggage.
Costs more, but you get to visit your friends, perhaps on a holiday. I use cheap backpacker accommodation until I would be ready to return to my new home.
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Replies: 21 / Views: 3,413 |
Posted 01/24/2015 11:03 am
