C N G: Imported Coins Will Be Subjected To Tariffs

I agree that's the $64,000 dollar question.

I guess today only a tiny percentage of incoming goods actually trigger any kind of customs bureaucracy to kick in.
I am assuming that when 100% of incoming goods require action the system will grind to a halt.
I will be asking auction companies how long they are willing to delay shipment (at least one I have bought from in the past has a routine policy for accumulating auction wins).

We can only hope. That's the only way I see it working without big issues. But most of my packages just come through registered mail (USPS) which does not leave me feeling optimistic (though I don't have anything in transit at the moment).

If anything, they should pay you for repatriating it.

Maybe all those people terminated from other government jobs off are now being hired to do that job?

Spink's take on tariffs today

A Word from our Chairman and CEO: US Tariffs and Collectables

Dear Friends, Dear Clients,

I hope this email finds you well.

Since "Liberation Day" on 2 April, President Trump had many collectors wondering what the recent set of measures means for their favourite hobby, and in particular when buying and selling their beloved collectables.

Tariffs of goods coming into the USA are now back to the levels of 1909 (Source: Bloomberg), and as I write to you from Spink's Hong Kong offices, I must single out, that since yesterday, goods coming from China will face a 104% tariff coming into the USA.

We all have our personal views on the matter, and many of us were health experts during Covid, geopolitical experts during the war between Russia and Ukraine, and now we are all international commerce experts! Nobody knows how the cards will eventually fall. In every crisis, there is a risk and an opportunity.

Here is what we know as of 8pm HK time on Wednesday 9 April 2025:

In the aftermath of the implementation of new tariffs on imports into the USA, unfortunately at this stage there is no exemption to this rule for collectible items.

So far, barring any reciprocal tariff barriers by various trade partners, it mainly affects collectors based in the USA. It is fair to say it might also affect dealers, auction houses, experts and grading houses based in the USA.

And the rule to keep in mind, is that the tariff that will apply to the country of manufacturing where the collectable was struck or printed. So, a coin struck 2,000 years ago in ancient Greece, will be deemed as manufactured in Greece, and hence the 20% EU tariff will apply. An Indian banknote printed by De la Rue, or Bradbury Wilkinson in the UK 100 years ago, will be deemed manufactured in the UK, and a 10% rule will apply. And a Ming banknote printed in the 14th century in China (I love them!), will face a 104% tariff when arriving on US soil.

As mentioned, lots bought by clients residing in the USA in Spink auctions in London and Hong Kong, are subject to tariffs based on country of manufacture/origin. The attached lists the countries of origin with tariff levels above 10%, all other countries of origin are subject to 10%, if shipped to the USA. See the list here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-conte.../Annex-I.pdf. It is of course subject to change regularly and as mentioned above, China is now at 104% at the time of writing.

Spink is very fortunate, as the majority of stamps , coins, banknotes and medals we sell were manufactured in the UK, and therefore enjoy the most favourable tariff at the time of writing: 10%.

There is no doubt that in the immediate future the collectors based in the USA will be at a disadvantage when bidding as they will have to factor in the tariff in calculating the maximum price they are ready to pay for an item.

As most of you know, we offer some storage facilities in our London vaults and are happy to discuss storage of your purchases in London or Hong Kong, provided it does not contravene any international law.

It is for sure a very disruptive move: the competitive position of not only countries, but also collectors and market players, will be redistributed. No doubt it will evolve in a very fluid fashion, and it is possible that by the time you read this email, some parts might already obsolete. But I thought nevertheless it would be useful to share with you what we understand at the present moment. As the situation becomes clearer, we will continue to update you and facilitate your collecting passions!

And as one of my favourite sayings goes, that I used when writing to you during Covid, "Everything will be okay in the end, and if it is not yet okay, it is not the end"

And never forget, as collectors, we have a distinct advantage over every other human being, in these turbulent times, we can find a remarkable solace in our collections.

Yours truly,

Olivier D. Stocker, CFA, FRPSL,

Spink's Chairman and CEO

Friend just received his Leu ancient from Switzerland -- no tariff on 800 CHF parcel.

Still waiting on my medieval from Belgium (much cheaper, so hopefully no tariff either).

I don't know -- it just arrived normally like in the past.

The hammer was 800 CHF, so I don't know how an $800 USD exemption would be applied. (Ditto with tariffed items not in USD.)

It's the first real-world experience I've heard of so far. Hopefully it bodes well for the future.




Unknown at present. There was nothing different with the parcel or delivery, but it could be a bill-you-later kind of thing... perhaps based on electronic records versus physical parcels.