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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,503 |
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
So I have purchased coins through ebay, Heritage, U.S. Mint, coins coming from TPG's, etc.. over the years. They have been delivered via USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.. When I'm expecting coins within a 3 or 4 day window, I tell the family to keep an eye out for the mail-carrier and bring the mail in right away! Not just for security reasons but for environmental reasons. My (metal) mailbox is attached to the house. The front of the house gets direct sun for most of the day. On these 95+ degree summer days, I'm afraid to think what the temperature might get to inside that box! Some of you may have metal mailboxes out at the street. I have no idea what affect 100+ degree temperatures might have on coins but I'm sure it's not good. Just something to think about. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
In the winter or summer in extreme temperatures, I usually bring the package inside and let it adjust to the house temperature slowly. I just stick it on the table and get around to it later.
( Reminds me of when we would get tropical fish in a plastic bag and let them float unopened in the fish tank until the temperatures were the same. )
But opening a cold coin in the warm house and vise versa will cause condensation, like when you get out of the air conditioned car and your glasses fog up. That can't be good for a coin.
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Pillar of the Community
 5464 Posts |
Excellent additional points TNG!  ! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8715 Posts |
Since the mail carrier here comes really late (5:30 - 6:30 PM) I usually just immediately pick up the mail as soon as the mail carrier drops it off. So usually the coin sits in the mailbox for no more than 5 - 10 minutes. I wouldn't recommend the coins sitting in the mailbox for too long, as that can cause a risk of theft or damage to the coin from extreme temperature. Quote:
( Reminds me of when we would get tropical fish in a plastic bag and let them float unopened in the fish tank until the temperatures were the same. ) Being a fellow fish keeper (  ) I have done this many times with fish, but not with coins |
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
Quote:
So usually the coin sits in the mailbox for no more than 5 - 10 minutes. I'm with you. I'm also tracking the shipments and pretty much know when the package is out for delivery. I also have a goldfish pond in the backyard.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
Fortunately, our mailbox at the road is in shade almost 24/7. The highs this next week stretch to 104°F. Quote:
The front of the house gets direct sun for most of the day. On these 95+ degree summer days, I'm afraid to think what the temperature might get to inside that box! I wouldn't be surprised if the temp in the mailbox approached or surpassed 130°. I suppose you could stick a small thermometer in there and find out. I don't think much harm will be done in the short term. As long as it is brought inside the same day and acclimated properly (as TNG said), I don't see many issues arising. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Do not put a baggie with tropical fish in your mailbox tho.  Actually, we don't know if the mail truck carrier had your packages sitting in a basket with the sun blazing on it through the windshield either for three hours. We really have little control over what a package goes through on the way to our mailbox. I have a remote digital temp thing on the porch that we probably picked up at Harbor Freight that tells us the temp outside on a receiver in the house. I could easily take it out and put it in the mailbox and see what the temp is inside of it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3470 Posts |
Interesting the care and concern the packages are given during the last hour or less of their journey. Just imagine all the transitions your items go through as the travel across the country. Going from the frozen belly of a jet at 30,000ft to a 100+ degree tarmac and then whatever happens locally.
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
spruett001, TNG, nfine, all excellent points! Guys like us are obviously proactive with our coins.
You can take it to the bank, that there are guys out there (probably not on this forum) that buy coins through the mail and the coins are sitting in their mailboxes throughout the country for hours or even days as we speak.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Coins won't care about ambient temps around 10% of their metal's melting point. I'd be more worried about the packaging, especially if the sender managed to get adhesive into a position where it could melt onto the coin and/or outgassing be a problem.
For anyone but the most rural of rural customers, there are many good reasons to justify the cost of a PO Box. This is one of them.
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
I've had coins sit in my mailbox for 7 hours without much worry other than security. Oh, and I haven't had one melt yet... Quote:
The highs this next week stretch to 104°F. I'm looking forward to this.  I've about given up on trying to keep my garden alive and this stretch we're looking at will take it's toll I'm sure. Anybody else in the south enjoying the round 2 of Sahara Desert dust?  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
1. Get an Air Conditioned mail box
2. Use a Post Office Box
3. Change any metal mail boxes to a plastic one.
4. Make your own mail box out of wood.
5. Get a job with the place that delivers your coins so you can get them first.
6. Stop buying coins via the mail system.
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
7. Tell the sellers (on auctions, ebay, on-line shopping, the Mint, coins you're having graded via TPG'ers, etc..) you will pick them up!  Edited by USSID18
07/22/2018 11:57 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
74133 Posts |
8. Or just ask for a refund on ebay, if the coins get destroyed in the mailbox from the temperature and blame it on the seller. Then click the reason why you're wanting a refund and put "Item Not As Described". Errers and Varietys.
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Moderator
United States
188342 Posts |
Ouch.  |
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
I soak my coins in my fish tank to equilibrate them before opening. With all the tape some of you use, the packages usually float.
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,503 |
Posted 07/18/2018 10:48 pm
