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No more mailing coins to France
derryb
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France Prohibits Sending Currency, “Coins And Precious Metals” By Mail
France has prohibited the sending of currency, “coins and precious metals” by mail.
In new legislation which was enacted May 23rd, the French government decreed that it is forbidden to send all forms of currency - coins and cash and all forms of precious metals – coins, bars and jewellery by mail.
The legislation was published on Legifrance, the French government entity responsible for publishing legal texts online and can be seen here.
It was not announced by the government and not covered in the media. There were no communications and nobody in the government justified or explained this decision.
The legislation says that “the insertion of banknotes, coins and precious metals is prohibited in mailings, including the insured items, registered items and items subject to formalities certifying deposition and distribution. "
Some have suggested that the decree is to limit what is known in France as “the anonymous market”, the market in which no taxes are paid and people are free to trade without the supervision of banks and government.
However, euro coins and notes and gold bullion coins and bars attract no tax in France and therefore this is more likely to be an attempt to discourage the ownership of gold bullion and cash outside of the banking system and is a form of capital control.
It may also be an attempt to restrict the growing private market in France of people buying bullion online through Ebay which is increasingly popular.
The freedom of people to trade amongst themselves is a form of civil liberty as is the right to privacy.
The selling and the buying of precious metals in France are already subject to strict regulations.
Until September 2011, citizens could easily buy and sell gold coins and bars with cash but this was forbidden then when French citizens were forbidden to buy with cash in person and had to buy precious metals by trade mail, crossed cheque and by wire transfer or be “punished by a fine of fifth grade” which is a fine of some €1,500/oz.
The government decree does not specify that other independent companies cannot send gold and or silver coins or bars by mail. Indeed, it is only the French public company or national post company, La Poste that is forbidden in the decree.
France has prohibited the sending of currency, “coins and precious metals” by mail.
In new legislation which was enacted May 23rd, the French government decreed that it is forbidden to send all forms of currency - coins and cash and all forms of precious metals – coins, bars and jewellery by mail.
The legislation was published on Legifrance, the French government entity responsible for publishing legal texts online and can be seen here.
It was not announced by the government and not covered in the media. There were no communications and nobody in the government justified or explained this decision.
The legislation says that “the insertion of banknotes, coins and precious metals is prohibited in mailings, including the insured items, registered items and items subject to formalities certifying deposition and distribution. "
Some have suggested that the decree is to limit what is known in France as “the anonymous market”, the market in which no taxes are paid and people are free to trade without the supervision of banks and government.
However, euro coins and notes and gold bullion coins and bars attract no tax in France and therefore this is more likely to be an attempt to discourage the ownership of gold bullion and cash outside of the banking system and is a form of capital control.
It may also be an attempt to restrict the growing private market in France of people buying bullion online through Ebay which is increasingly popular.
The freedom of people to trade amongst themselves is a form of civil liberty as is the right to privacy.
The selling and the buying of precious metals in France are already subject to strict regulations.
Until September 2011, citizens could easily buy and sell gold coins and bars with cash but this was forbidden then when French citizens were forbidden to buy with cash in person and had to buy precious metals by trade mail, crossed cheque and by wire transfer or be “punished by a fine of fifth grade” which is a fine of some €1,500/oz.
The government decree does not specify that other independent companies cannot send gold and or silver coins or bars by mail. Indeed, it is only the French public company or national post company, La Poste that is forbidden in the decree.
Governments can print currency. Only the people can print faith in it — and they’re running low on ink.
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Comments
<< <i>Wow. link? >>
lost the original link, here's another version
Governments can print currency. Only the people can print faith in it — and they’re running low on ink.
Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner.
Edited to add: this honestly sounds a bit incredulous. There are no mainstream news outlets reporting the same thing (though in all fairness, so much of the news is distorted, I'm unsure if it would make any difference).
Interests:
Pre-Jump Grade Project
Toned Commemoratives
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Linkety two
Wonder if this is related???
http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
IIRC, my last shipment came via La Poste, not with an express courier.
I wonder how this will affect PCGS's new Paris Office??
The name is LEE!
Ebay will have to adapt quick.
I love selling international. Now, another absurd hoop.
<< <i>Hmmmm.
I wonder how this will affect PCGS's new Paris Office??
Excellent thought! Excellent.
<< <i>
<< <i>Hmmmm.
I wonder how this will affect PCGS's new Paris Office??
Excellent thought! Excellent. >>
ouch!
<< <i>
<< <i>Wow. link? >>
lost the original link, here's another version >>
I think silver doctors is relying on Google translate and this may turn out to be wrong. Even so, this will only fire up the black market, overnight. Want a package delivered? Here's your price.
Free Trial
<< <i>One linketh.
Linkety two
Wonder if this is related??? >>
I doubt if the third one is related.
<< <i>I couldn't find anything about this on the Legifrance site:
http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr
This is the link on Legifrance. It is linked in silver doctor article, translated by Google. I can read a little french and it seems accurate.
LegiFrance
edited to add: they modified the Act on May 21st (effective May 24th)
<< <i>Hmmmm.
I wonder how this will affect PCGS's new Paris Office??
My guess is they will have to contract with a private carrier such as Fed Ex.
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
Practice makes perfect & nobody is perfect. So, practice being nobody and be perfect !
<< <i>Take note DHS - a programme fit for the American Gestapo State to come. >>
I take note of the Euro Zone and liken it to the Twilight Zone.
Collect Presidential Dollars and blame in on the United Nations.
Practice makes perfect & nobody is perfect. So, practice being nobody and be perfect !
<< <i>Take note DHS - a programme fit for the American Gestapo State to come. >>
Agree. Be prepared for the truly clueless and naïve to call you paranoid.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>
<< <i>Hmmmm.
I wonder how this will affect PCGS's new Paris Office??
My guess is they will have to contract with a private carrier such as Fed Ex. >>
DHL and UPS also operate in France with DHL the largest Euro carrier.
<< <i>Despite all the sinister thoughts expressed in the article, I wonder if there was just too much theft in the French postal service. >>
You hit the nail on the head. That's one of the reasons why I stopped mailing coins to France several years ago and about 2 years ago, to overseas buyers, including Canada & Mexico all together. France's situation is not new and btw, there are numerous Euro Zone countries that "officially" do not allow coins & bullion to be mailed to them such as Great Britain or Poland.
Click on the Postal Link below and the individual countries for further info what is allowed & what is not.
USPS Index of Countries
<< <i>
<< <i>Take note DHS - a programme fit for the American Gestapo State to come. >>
Agree. Be prepared for the truly clueless and naïve to call you paranoid.
If the shoe fits...wear it. Suggest you check out the Postal Info from my previous post on what is allowed & what is not to all the countries. Those "doos and doo nots" have been on the books for years...nothing new.
linque
There is a difference.
The name is LEE!
<< <i>I cannot help but wonder if this includes collectibles??
There is a difference. >>
It says "coins."
Define "coins."
<< <i>A longer version of the story. Note the comments on Fedex and UPS.
linque >>
Much better article. Thanks! Interesting that bullion is not taxed though. But wow what a way to kill the hobby.