How to Package Coins for Shipment
The Short Answer to Easy Packing:
The easiest way to send coins is to place them in one or more coin sleeves
and wrap each sleeve tightly with tape so it won't split open when the
post office bounces the package around. Place the sleeves in a small box with plenty of
padding so the sleeves will not move around, split open and scratch the
coins. I now ship 40 or more coins in the new US
Postal Service "Small Priority Mail Flat Rate Box". You
can get the box for free at the post office. They come in 3 sizes at
different postage rates, so make sure you get the small one. If
you don't want to go to the post office, any box will do. A box is
a little heaver than an envelope so it will cost slightly more; however,
it is the safest, easiest way to send the coins. If
you decide to use an envelope, even a padded envelope, follow the instructions
below. Coins are heavy and if they are not
tightly packed they can shift, split open and even break out of your package.
Trust me on this! I have
seen it happen.
If you are sending 40 coins or less:
This is the way I send coins from Pennies up through Quarters or the new Dollar in
size. The lease expensive way to send coins is via First-Class mail in a number 10
envelope, but the coins have to be packaged as described below or the post office sorting
machine will rip them out of the envelope. You start with a heavy-duty paper
base or regular weight paper folded 3 times and taped together. my preference
is 1/3
of a sheet of 8.5" by 11" heavy paper cut to
approximately 3.66"
by 8.5" which is the size of the base paper shown in the picture to
the right. I generally use 100 pound or so "cover stock". You can normally
purchase a few sheets at any good Copying Shop. You can also cut sheets from an old cereal
or shoe box. Don't use corrugated-cardboard; it is to thick and heavy.
When it flexes the coins tend to pop off.
Next you wrap each coin with a strip of paper. (I normally cut 33, 1" by 2.75"
long strips from an 8.5" by 11" sheet of
paper.) The size is not important as long as the coin is protected
from the tape.
Note: When the coins are in holders,
wrap each holder in a strip of 2" by 4.25" paper so the tape
will not damage the holder. Mylar flips must be folded so the
coins will not slide out. One can only tape 4 folded flips or 4 cardboard
holders per side. Use 2 strips of 2" packing tape to hold them
down.
Tape two rows of up to 5 coins per row using a strip of clear 2 inch heavy duty
packing tape or by taping an X over each coin using 3/4 inch clear tape.
Leave plenty of room between the coins and line them up horizontally and
vertically. Then tape the next 10 on the other side making sure they are
in the same relative position as the first set. This is to make sure the
envelope will flex when it goes through the post office sorting machine.
Make sure you use plenty of tape so the coins don't come loose when the
envelope flexes. Taping Hint:
To make sure the tape sticks to the paper between the coins, hold both
ends of 8.5" piece of 2" packing tape. Starting at one end
of a row of 5 coins, push the tape down with your fingernail between each
coin moving down the row one coin at a time.
If you are sending more than 20 coins then do the same thing with the next set of coins using a second piece of
heavy-duty paper. Do not tape more than 10 coins to each side of the
base paper.
When you are done, tape the envelop flap down and reinforce the right
and left edges of the envelope with strips of clear tape overlapping the
side edges of the envelop. This will prevent the heavy-duty base
paper with the heavy coins attached to it from ripping the envelope
open.
If you don't pack the coins in this way, then the Post Office sorting machine will
rip the coins out of the envelope. If you don't tape them
secularly, then some may come free and scratch the other coins. If the
coins are lose in the envelope, they are no good to anybody.
If you don't want to bother with all the wrapping and taping, you can
send you coins in rolls as described below. The postage will be a
little bit more, but some people find it easer.
If you are sending more than 40 coins or sending rolls of coins:
You can roll them up together using a coin sleeve or use a strip of paper about
4.25
inches wide. Make sure the coins are tight so they won't rub together.
To keep a paper roll from splitting in the mail, wrap strips of
tape all the way around the roll -- top to bottom and across both ends. Then
turn the roll 90 degrees and wrap it again. Another option is to use
an empty 35 mm film canister; it will hold 20 to 30 coins and you can get
them free at any photo shop. Make sure you use a piece of tissue to pad the
top, bottom and sides of the canister so the coins are tight and won’t rub
together, then wrap tape around it so the cover won't pop off.
Place the sleeves in a small box with plenty of
padding so the sleeves will not move around, split open and scratch the
coins. I now ship 40 or more coins in the new US
Postal Service "Small - Priority Mail Flat Rate Box". You
can get the box for free at the post office. They come in 3 sizes at
different postage rates, so make sure you get the small one.
If you use a Padded Envelope:
It is best to pack the rolls of coins in a small sturdy box, but you can use a heavy-duty padded
envelope or a Flat Fate Priority Mail Envelope (the Small Priority Mail
Box is better at the same price) to send them.
If you use an envelope, make sure you tape all of the rolls together; otherwise, the individual rolls may
break through the envelope when they get bounced around at the post office.
In essence you want to have a package within a package when you use an
envelope. Then stuff the envelope with shredded paper or newspaper to make sure
all the rolls of coins are tight or they will shift and break out of the
envelope. Trust me on this! I have
seen it happen. Note
if you are sending 2 to 6 rolls of coins, the small Flat Rate Priority
Mail Box is the cheapest way to send them but they must be packed tight!
Whether you use a box or a padded envelope, stuff it with shredded paper
or newspaper to make sure
all the rolls of coins are tight. I like to reinforce the box or
envelope with several strips of heave-duty, clear 2 inch packing tape
around the outside near the edges in all directions. Coins are heavy and if they are not
tightly packed they can shift and break out of your package. A box is the best way to send several rolls,
but it is the most expensive way to send a small number of coins.
Box Hint: You can pick up a
Small Priority Mail Box (8.6" x 5.4" x 1.6") or a
Medium Flat Rate Priority Mail Box (11" X 8.5"
X 5.5") free from the
US Post Office. The small box will hold about 6 rolls of
quarters or 10 rolls of pennies with good padding. Make
sure you pack the rolls tight with newspaper or shredded paper. Note
if you are sending more than 13 ounces of coins, the small Flat Rate Priority Mail Box is the cheapest way to send them but they must
be packed tight!
The small box has a weight limit of 4 pounds. 1 roll of quarters
weights 8.1 ounces giving a maximum of 6-7 rolls with padding per
box. A roll of Pennies weighs about 4.6 oz., or a maximum of 10-12
rolls with padding per box. Figure about 2 to 4 ounces for the box
and light weight padding.
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leave a comment too let your friends know about it.
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For more Information on Coins,
visit the following web sites:
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How Coins are Graded
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Find out how to grade your coins! Visit the
Grading Coins site.
It will explain the most commonly user Coin Grading System.
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Do you have an Unusual or Valuable coin?
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Find out what your coin is worth! Visit the
What's
it Worth site. It will tell you how to establish the value of your coin.
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Lincoln Cents
for Sale or Trade
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Visit The Penny Trader Web Site.
It has a large selection of Lincoln Wheat, Memorial and Bicentennial Cents from the Philadelphia (no mint mark),
Denver (D) and San Francisco (S) mints from 1909 to the current date.
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50 State Quarters for Sale or Trade
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Visit the 50 State Quarters web site
to buy or trade quarters. These brilliant uncirculated 50 State Quarters
are purchased directly from the Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D) Mints. Bright and shiny Circulated quarters are also available
for sale or trade.
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All of the coins are carefully packaged and
sent to you via First Class Mail.
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