Another ANA Baltimore question, flying there

chrisadkins

Has anyone traveled with their coin collection before by air? I'm flying to Baltimore and I'm just reluctant to put a collection that is worth 10's of thousands of dollars in my luggage and have someone from security putting their fingerprints on the coins or even more likely having them get lost or stolen. I would probably prefer to carry them on, but I'm still concerned about security touching them or opening up rolls and getting their fingerprints all over them. Can anyone with experience of flying tell me what they suggest? I have about 60 ngc and pcgs holders I will be taking along with about 20 clear tubes (25 coins per tube) filled with coins. Do I just explain to the security screener beforehand that these are valuable coins?

chabot510

take them as a carry on. if they stop you to search through your bag, ask for a private screening room. don't mention anything unless they stop you, and even then, say it quietly. do not attract attention.

MikeInFL

This might help: Butternut Article

NHSBaseball

Put them all in your pocket and just throw 'em into that big gray bucket with your shoes, keys, and the rest of your change....

mrpotatoheadd

<< <i>take them as a carry on. if they stop you to search through your bag, ask for a private screening room. don't mention anything unless they stop you, and even then, say it quietly. do not attract attention. >>

That's the way to do it.

I've taken rolls in the milky white square tubes before and they didn't want to look through them- the fact that I had lots of coins in individual 2x2s and envelopes was enough to convince the screeners what was in the tubes. If your coins are in clear plastic tubes, the chances are excellent ( sorry, no guarantees, though- this is a government agency, after all... ) that they won't even think of opening them.

ebaytrader

Just to add that we simply put them in plastic bags with carry-on. It's not the first time a screener has searched a coin dealer / collector. They don't need to go through them individually.
The guys on the x-rays have seen enough already if you are arriving / leaving a major show and sometimes won't even call for a search.

CaptHenway

<< <i>take them as a carry on. if they stop you to search through your bag, ask for a private screening room. don't mention anything unless they stop you, and even then, say it quietly. do not attract attention. >>



Take a business card and write on it in advance: "I AM CARRYING VALUABLE MERCHANDISE. MAY I PLEASE HAVE A PRIVATE SCREENING ROOM?"
and hand it to the person in question. This way others around you do not know that you are carrying valuable.

TD