I'm sorry Ma'am you can't send that

That is what the lady at the post office told me. She said that many international countries prohit mailing coins regardless of whether they are just collectibles or not. She refused to sell me postage for it. I was sending them as a swap to Costa Rica. :0(

Moved by ZacUK from Numismatic questions to Swaps and trades

Are you based in the UK or France? Or somewhere else?

If you are from the UK I don't see why you should have been refused as I can't see Costa Rica on the list of countries that don't allow currency to be sent through the mail.

http://www2.royalmail.com/delivery/mail-advice/sending-cash

I have heard the same in Brazil. In one opportunity I put the coins inside a a piece of cardboard. I put together with a magazine and sent abroad. When they asked me what I was sending, I just answered: Two magazines...

A bit more expensive, but it went to Bosnia. When I followed the correct procedure I received the coins back. I had to figure out some alternative.

Just make it appear that you are not sending coins. If they ask a customs form, write: collection itens.

I'm sorry but I just cannot do that. I am based in the USA and you have to sign a document of the contents for customs. If they ever opened it (they usually do) then there would be the issue of "how did that get in there." No thanks. I don't need that kind of worry or headache.  I guess I will just look before swapping as to whether or not I can send the coins. Sigh   

Strange...

I've received twice from USA. Three if I count an US embassy in Africa.

I've seen other post related to this. So far I haven't had any troubles posting, but I have only dealt with a hand full of countrys. I generally list everything as hobby supplies on the customs form. So far, noone has questioned it, and even thou it is a little deceptive, I think you could make the case that it isn't a lie.

Having said that, I am still cautious of sending coins to countries that expressly forbid them.

Most countries that I have looked up, have some kind of rule against shipping foriegn currency, but most allow for it to be shipped to collectors (France, for example), or have a value limit of some kind. You can find info on the USPS website.

All of the United States Postal Service regulations concerning international postage restrictions are HERE.

As some of you may have guessed, I am a bit of a maverick....Stupid rules like these I neither respect nor adhere to.

I send coins as "hobby supplies" which they are. I have also smuggled coins out of countries which forbid the export of their money (and they really do forbid it! LOL!).

That said, I have also entered the USA, though I am not allowed in (tee hee!) and spent many years under surveilance from British Intelligence (phone taps, mail intercepts, photographed). I don't think they bother any more, but I was stopped and arrested under a pretext of the Terrorism Act a couple of years ago.

I'm not convinced ANY country's customs department will open and inspect every package. Certainly they will use olfactory detection devices for drugs and explosives (usually called Rex) and maybe even X-Ray, though the number of firearms entering Britain and other counties sugests otherwise.

Of course, if you are worried, don't break the rules. But if like Copernicus and Gallileo you're a pig-headed, maverick pain-in-the-proverbial you may wish to challenge the system! But do so at your own risk!

Matt

 

It's true that the rules are non-sensical when applied by government employees with room temperature IQs. They are clearly intended to prevent the smuggling of large quantities of currency, not prevent collectors from exchanging a half dozen coins. Sadly the rules are interpreted literally by halfwits rescued from a lifetime of unemployability by the Gubbermint. Anyone who has seen the TSA goons strutting around US airports looking for hot chicks to pat down knows what I'm talking about.

It's up to the citizens of these countries to petition their governments to ease up on the coin collecting terrorists and divert the resources into real security measures. Until then, the best thing that those of us who don't live in such countries can do is to stop sending coins which inevitably end up in the customs officers Christmas Bonus Fund.

If Ghadaffi can be overthrown it surely can't be hard to get even the most repressive regime to recognize that importing a few Lincoln Cents ain't going to undermine their currency.

Yes I just feel awful though because we agreed. My word means everything. I hate to sound so puristic but hey that is my goal. Anyway what should I do if he has already sent his side of the swap? I offered to pay him a fair price for them/ As far as I know it is not illegal (yet) to purchase something from another country. LOL

Any suggestions? I really don't want to be the bad guy here yet I refuse to bend the rules while they are yet still in effect. Sigh

Quote: rferrarimIf they ask a customs form, write: collection itens.

Yes, I normally put similar words on a customs form, usually the same as Matt Probert's 'Hobby Supplies'. BUT..the last few months the post office where I live has tightened up and they told me that isn't enough. Last few times I've put 'Hobby Supplies - Numismatics'. That seems to be complicated enough for them not to question further. It's a difficult one. If you were to list the actual contents..chances of getting stolen increase.

I think it just depends on the individual post office because the last three coin packages sent to me from USA simply said 'Hobby supplies'..and they got here no problem.

Quote: gammonmomYes I just feel awful though because we agreed. My word means everything. I hate to sound so puristic but hey that is my goal. Anyway what should I do if he has already sent his side of the swap? I offered to pay him a fair price for them/ As far as I know it is not illegal (yet) to purchase something from another country. LOL

Any suggestions? I really don't want to be the bad guy here yet I refuse to bend the rules while they are yet still in effect. Sigh

I have never encountered any issues importing hard currency, let alone coins, into a country. Exporting yes. The exception is the USA which has strict import and export embargoes in place. Being the "land of the free" the Americans are forbidden to sell certain articles to most countries, including the UK, and of course to buy things from any country which doesn't submit to American Imperialism, such as Cuba. So, if you are in the USA, it may well be illegal to buy from an individual in this other country.

What to do? Send the swap. Put "hobby supplies" on the customs label. I doubt if any judge would entertain  a case against a member of the public swapping coins with another. Unless they are gold bullion or valuable. That could be another issue.

Matt

Quote: gammonmomI'm sorry but I just cannot do that. I am based in the USA and you have to sign a document of the contents for customs. If they ever opened it (they usually do) then there would be the issue of "how did that get in there." No thanks. I don't need that kind of worry or headache.  I guess I will just look before swapping as to whether or not I can send the coins. Sigh   

I'm prety much on the same page as you... almost. Some countries just restrict collectors coins rather than outright prohibit them. When considering a trade I view each one on it's merits.

I reckon your best option is to pack the coins in such a way that the contents are not obvious and use the truthfull yet bland "hobby supplies" desciption. Some of the restrictions are just so nonsensical that I would have no problem in ignoring them. I regard myself as a pretty law abiding guy but when you see that a single playing card is prohibited but a full deck of 52 is allowed then you just have to shrug your shoulders and opt out of the madness.

I don't know if I sure reply, but well   done !!!

I know it involves extra cost but if you were to pack the coins with some extra coin envelopes maybe some tweezers, coin gloves, magnifying glass, or such stuff then the description hobby supplies would not be interpreted as an inaccurate description - but the complete truth and if you get caught out you can claim ignorance on not being allowed to post currency.     

I live in Canada and I have sent literally thousands of packages containing coins to over 50 countries during the past 10 years. I always list the contents as "collectibles" and I have never had an issue. I also feel that I am being truthful when I state "collectibles" rather than "coins".

I live in the US also, but just last summer I sent a package to England with coins and banknotes in it. I had written "coins" and "banknotes" on the customs form, but there was not one issue with the package. It even arrived early to it's destination. The package had 7 banknotes, 1 being American, and 7 coins, all being American, but there were no questions asked when I brought it to the post office, and it was never inspected during shipping. I had wrapped each coin in saran wrap, and then taped them to an index card and placed them between two cardboard pieces with the banknotes. I was told to be careful writing coins on the forms in the future though, and to write something more generic, such as collection items, hobby material, etc. I guess it just depends from where and when it's shipped in the US to if you'll have a problem or not.

I think some front desk personnel are on a power trip. You may have encountered one of those.

Quote: pnightingaleIt's true that the rules are non-sensical when applied by government employees with room temperature IQs.

Do they measure their room temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius??? In Europe 22 IQ for some of them is a lot!!!  

I am sure that declared "GIFT" full of the collectible coins should not bother any custom officer even in USA.

malol

I had swapped many times (about 30x !) with several people from USA without any problems.
Here is full list of my swaps - http://slovakcoins.szm.com/good.htm

I usually write on the envelope:  "hobby supplies", and mark it as "gift", my numismatic friends from all over the world do the same and it is OK, no problems.

Here is one nice guide from my friend Alexander from Russia, how to send letter with coins:
1. Wrap up coins in plastic or paper (to avoid glue from tape on coins).
2. Fix them with tape on piece of cardboard.
3. Wrap cardboard with aluminium foil that women are using for cooking
(to avoid metal scan).
4. Put the result into the bubbled envelope (to avoid fingering).
5. Sending with registerd mail (to decrease chances of loosing the
mail). Registered is not something that will bring coins day after
(UPS, DHL etc.) but the one which gives you the number that might be
used for the tracking of your package.
6. Finally, it is a good idea not to be too descriptive when you are
required to attach a customs form listing the contents of a package.
Rather than writing "coins" on a customs form, one collector have
found it quite acceptable to write "hobby supply".

Customs declaration:


regards
didi83