Question about security and safety at a large national coin show.

bosco5041 · January 14, 2014 7:32AM

I haven't been to a large national coin show since 1996. I had a fantastic time at the show and with all these fun show reports I am fired up to go to another one. I have several coins I would like to trade and of course I would be taking some cash with me. I would like to make a vacation out of it to so I would be going out at night and maybe stay a couple of days over to see the sites. My question is: What do you do with your coins and such if you stay after the show? I wouldn't want to carry them around for 2 days and I would not feel safe with them in the hotel room. Collectors that don't have a table at the show would be in this situation if they stay longer than a day also. Any ideas on this?

PTVETTER · January 14, 2014 7:36AM

send them back to yourself via registered mail.

More than likely your will be home before the arrive.

kiyote · January 14, 2014 8:53AM

I always wondered; are there guards in the parking lot where the dealers are? Security cameras? How many megapixels are we talking about? How easy would it be to leave the hotel area on foot vs in a vehicle? How many cameras are around the outside of the building, and are there any other hotels within running err walking distance I could check into?

WTCG · January 14, 2014 9:10AM

Try the safety deposit boxes in the back room of the hotel. Many states require hotels to provide safes in the lobby for guest use. They are fairly secure. Either that or ship your coins back home fully insured.

roadrunner · January 14, 2014 10:16AM

During the show you might be able to find a dealer you know to keep your coins with them. Another option is the FUN (or other large show) early bird pass which for $75-$90 gets you use of the coin show dealer security room for the length of the show and the following Monday. The biggest risk to your coins is during the show when you are dragging them around with you to dinner or back to the hotel. The security room or a known dealer is one solution. For the FUN pass you have to join FUN ($15) along with the early bird fee. Most big shows have such an arrangement you can use.

MsMorrisine · January 14, 2014 10:20AM

Or work a deal with a local bank for a 2 day sdb rental.

Unknown · January 14, 2014 10:22AM

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mrpotatoheadd · January 14, 2014 10:33AM

<< <i>I personally wouldn't do that... somebody at the bank could put the pieces together... coin show in town, short-term SDB rental, ID of individual is from out of town... shadier things have happened. >>

Anything's possible, but I'd bet less than 1 in 100 bank employees would even know that a coin show was being held.

Nickcap · January 14, 2014 10:35AM

I split my coins between a dealer that posts on here and the safe in my hotel room.

My family was with me and we stayed at Coronado Springs at Disney. The safe was big enough for three PCGS boxes of 20.

Unknown · January 14, 2014 10:37AM

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AMRC · January 14, 2014 10:42AM

Depends on the show. If you think about it, there really has been no real notably instances at the major shows. Most have people there packing some significant firepower. The real danger comes from coming and going to the show. People/Dealers being followed home on the last day of the show, or being followed out to the parking lot. It is actually my opinion that it is very safe. If you are worried about your coins, just think about the combined value of all the dealers inventory at the show.

Having said all of that. I never travel with coins without them being insured.

mrpotatoheadd · January 14, 2014 11:38AM

<< <i>Even if they don't know, all it takes is somebody walking in and asking for half dollars, starting a minor conversation with the tellers, and dropping a line like, "Oh, I'm only in town for the coin show" (I've done this...) to tip them off. >>

If one tells them there's a coin show being held, I guess you're right that they'd know about it then.

DaveG · January 14, 2014 11:51AM

I always wondered; are there guards in the parking lot where the dealers are? Security cameras? How many megapixels are we talking about? How easy would it be to leave the hotel area on foot vs in a vehicle? How many cameras are around the outside of the building, and are there any other hotels within running err walking distance I could check into?

kiyote,

Are you specifically asking about FUN or just coin shows in general?

bosco5041 · January 14, 2014 7:17PM

<< <i>Try the safety deposit boxes in the back room of the hotel. Many states require hotels to provide safes in the lobby for guest use. They are fairly secure. Either that or ship your coins back home fully insured. >>

Thanks for all of your replies. I think the hotel safe sounds like a good idea. I wonder if they carry any type of insurance or if you can get it.

BillJones · January 15, 2014 12:23AM

If you are a FUN member, you can make arrangements to use their security room during the show. Check with the staff to see what the arrangements are. You can take out your bag on a dailly basis if you lke. At the end of show you can send your material back to yourself via registered mail.

2ndCharter · January 15, 2014 1:39AM

During the show you might be able to find a dealer you know to keep your coins with them.

I've done this numerous times over the years. I know enough dealers who are more than willing to stick my bag behind their table at the end of the day and then I just stop by and pick it up in the morning.

Question about security and safety at a large national coin show.

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