how best to ship coins?

onthespot

I need to ship some coins with really nice toning to someone, and I have never shipped coins before. I was wondering if people on the board could tell me what household items are good or bad for shipping. For example, is saran wrap bad? Baggies? Cotton batting snugly wrapped around coins, then secured with masking tape? I don't have coin thingys and don't know where to get some. If it is imperative that I get those, I will. If I don't need them, and could safely ship using a little yankee ingenuity, your help would be greatly appreciated.
PS I would like to ship today if I get answers quickly enough. Thanks.
Patty

Placid

I would just put it in a taped shut flip and place between two pieces of cardboard and tape them together. That should be good enough.

nwcs

I wrap bubble wrap around the coins and then place it into a box with either peanuts or newspaper to soften it. Never had a problem with this.

onthespot

I don't have a flip and don't know where to get one right off had today. Is there anything wrong with say, a plastic baggie snuggly wrapped around the coin to prevent wear?

Placid

A baggie will work ok. If you are selling it the buyer won't be very impressed thou

Mikey

Stay away from staples.

onthespot

He knows I am a complete greenie about coins. I asked him if I could wrap them in cotton and he said just to be safe, ask the boards. I just would HATE to wreck his coins by packing them wrong, but am not to concerned if he thinks I am a hick or something, as long as the coins get there ok.

danglen

A baggie is fine. Just make sure you don't get any tape on the coin itself. I ship groups of coins in wrapped in bubblewrap, then in a Indestructo box filled with peanuts. So far I have not had any problems with this method of shipping.

JLW

Patty,
Just make sure that the coins do not come in direct contact with each other. Individually wrapped in a baggie and then placed between 2 pieces of light cardboard taped together should be fine. Then I would place those in a padded mailer (you can get these at any drug/variety store) and they should arrive just fine. I presume you are shipping USPS, if so the padded mailer will make it necessary for them to hand-cancel the package rather than going through a brutal automated machine. Also, insurance is cheap piece-of-mind, if they are very valuable, registered mail is the best.
Joe

coindaughter

Send them registered mail. Don't use regular plastic tape. Take your package to the P.O. and ask to use their paper tape. They need that to postmark the boxes to make it tamper-evident.

After about $500, registered is cheaper than insurance, and much safer, in my opinion.

Good luck!

copperhead

Every household has tissues. Tissues are very soft. If you wrap them in tissue first this should protect them quite sufficiently. Wish you luck!!!!!!!!!!
AL