How to ship currency or coins in the United States?

Question

I wanted to sell coins and was wondering how coins or currency can be delivered by mail? Does it have to be in a box or can it be in an envelope?

Answer 1

Most eBay sellers who ship coins within the US use bubble mailers: essentially padded envelopes.  If you ship coins that way, you would want to wrap the coins securely so they don't move around, and perhaps add some internal padding - extra newspaper, bubble wrap, or the like - as well as some cardboard stiffeners.  Essentially, you don't want it to be possible for anyone to detect that coins or paper money are being shipped from looking at or feeling the outside of the envelope.

If you're shipping large items in cases (e.g. proof sets), or a very large lot, like many rolls of coins, a box is usually a better idea - it will stand up better to the wear and tear of shipping.

"Extra internal padding and coins well wrapped" also applies if you're shipping these in a box, as well as in an envelope.

Delivery Confirmation is very inexpensive ($0.55 or so), and you might also consider spending a couple of bucks to a) require a signature and b) have a return receipt sent to you, depending on the nature of the transaction.  If the coins' value is at all high, insurance isn't terribly expensive; if it's very large, registered mail is a good idea.  Depending on the nature of your transaction, you can require the buyer to pay for part of all of these services: they help protect you both from non-delivery or damage.

As a general guide, many eBay coin transactions under $100 or so routinely take place with delivery confirmation, but without insurance, signature confirmation, or return receipt.

Even if you're selling privately or via some other service than eBay, you might check the Help and Community pages on that site, and eBay Guides, for some excellent advice about shipping coins.

Answer 2

If it were me I would use a box. Being in an envelope is too risky. My grandmother sent me some items when I was a child left behind at her house. She used a envelope, needless to say I never received it.

Depending on where you are selling it and how much you are shipping I would also insure it with a return request receipt attached to prove that whoever it is going to signed for it.

Remember the old rule CYA. (Cover your asp.) Someone buying them could claim they never received them and then you are out of your merchandise and have to put a trace on the package.

Hope this helps!