Shipping coins USPS

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KISHU1
KISHU1 Posts: 2,310 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

What’s the cheapest way to send a raw coin say a half dollar less than $25 value. Bubble wrap ground advantage or first class or other
Thanks
Frank D

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  • IkesT
    IkesT Posts: 4,603 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 15, 2026 4:45PM
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    First class; put the half dollar in a flip and staple or tape the flip to invoice to keep it from sliding around. The flip can be further protected in a folded piece of 1/16" thick foam wrap (also attached to invoice) if desired.

  • KISHU1
    KISHU1 Posts: 2,310 ✭✭✭
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    Bubble mailer or craft mailer etc
    Thanks
    Frank D

  • JBK
    JBK Posts: 17,868 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Keep it under 1/4" thick and mostly flexible and it can go as nonmachinable first class. $1.31 if under an ounce, add .29 if over an ounce. Wrap securely so envelope doesn't rip open.

  • MasonG
    MasonG Posts: 7,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @KISHU1 said:
    Bubble mailer or craft mailer etc

    A bubble mailer will cost you $8 or so.

  • IkesT
    IkesT Posts: 4,603 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @KISHU1 said:
    Bubble mailer or craft mailer etc
    Thanks
    Frank D

    You can just use a regular letter envelope. Just be sure to seal it well (an extra strip of packing tape doesn't hurt!).

    The key is to have your flip securely attached to the invoice or letter so that it can't slide around in transit. The edge of a flip is sharp enough to tear through the side of the paper envelope if it slides back and forth enough times (had this happen once with an Ike dollar sent to me).

  • BruceS
    BruceS Posts: 1,556 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    As other have said, a regular envelope with a stamp is cheapest, I wouldn't use it for anything over $20 in value though, but that's me.

    eBay ID-bruceshort978
    Successful BST:here and ATS, bumanchu, wdrob, hashtag, KeeNoooo, mikej61, Yonico, Meltdown, BAJJERFAN, Excaliber, lordmarcovan, cucamongacoin, robkool, bradyc, tonedcointrader, mumu, Windycity, astrotrain, tizofthe, overdate, rwyarmch, mkman123, Timbuk3,GBurger717, airplanenut, coinkid855 ,illini420, michaeldixon, Weiss, Morpheus, Deepcoin, Collectorcoins, AUandAG, D.Schwager, blu62vette, morgan13, torinoCobra71, JWP, promethius88,
  • Dave99B
    Dave99B Posts: 8,947 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I once bought a raw low grade Barber quarter on eBay … maybe 20+ years ago. It came in a regular #10 envelope. No paperwork, no 2x2, no nothing. Worked fine!

    Dave

    Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
  • messydesk
    messydesk Posts: 20,823 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Cheapest, but riskiest way is loose in a normal letter envelope with a stamp-sized sticker where the stamp should be. I've never sent anything like this, but I have received something.

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • JMS1223
    JMS1223 Posts: 1,118 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Dave99B said:
    I once bought a raw low grade Barber quarter on eBay … maybe 20+ years ago. It came in a regular #10 envelope. No paperwork, no 2x2, no nothing. Worked fine!

    Dave

    It must had somehow avoided the machine to not slip out.

    I remember a long time ago a friend sent me one of the state quarters they found in standard circulation in a plain paper envelope. It slipped out since it was just sent alone with nothing protecting it inside the envelope. I could see the slit on the edge of the envelope where it had slipped out. I was sad I never got the quarter but I think I found that state quarter I needed a month or two later.

  • Twobitcollector
    Twobitcollector Posts: 4,756 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I use a flip and tape it to 3 x 5 card and put another card in front. I put all that in a 6 3/4 envelope with a stamp or 2.

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  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,054 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I'm amused at some of these suggestions. I wonder what those people would say if an eBay seller shipped that way.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,094 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Twobitcollector said:
    I use a flip and tape it to 3 x 5 card and put another card in front. I put all that in a 6 3/4 envelope with a stamp or 2.

    👍

  • jdimmick
    jdimmick Posts: 9,992 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Had a customer years ago "tom brown" sucker would spend 50k on a coin, but when it came time for stuff like shipping, he'd cheap out. Once sent me a 1798 bust dollar in xf in a plain ol envelope, and when it arrived, the envelope at bottom looked just like the above post slit from coin rolling back and forth , but luckily was still inside!!

  • USSID18
    USSID18 Posts: 655 ✭✭✭✭
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    @KISHU1 said:
    What’s the cheapest way to send a raw coin say a half dollar less than $25 value. Bubble wrap ground advantage or first class or other
    Thanks
    Frank D

    Do you care more about cheap?....or do you care more about safe?

  • mbogoman
    mbogoman Posts: 5,342 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I ship a lot this way. I use one of the POs Priority Mail cardboard flat rate envelopes. I cut it into roughly 3 inch by 9 inch folding sections (you will get 4 out of each Priority Mail envelope). With the coin in a flip, I tape it to the inside of the cardboard, fold it over and tape shut. Then place it into a standard business envelope. It is flexible enough to be machine processed and stays under the 1/4 inch limit.

    mbogoman

    Asesabi Lutho

    https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/classic-issues-colonials-through-1964/zambezi-collection-trade-dollars/7345
  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,054 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @mbogoman said:
    I ship a lot this way. I use one of the POs Priority Mail cardboard flat rate envelopes. I cut it into roughly 3 inch by 9 inch folding sections (you will get 4 out of each Priority Mail envelope). With the coin in a flip, I tape it to the inside of the cardboard, fold it over and tape shut. Then place it into a standard business envelope. It is flexible enough to be machine processed and stays under the 1/4 inch limit.

    That is technically illegal unless it is a used flat rate envelope.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • mbogoman
    mbogoman Posts: 5,342 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @jmlanzaf said:

    @mbogoman said:
    I ship a lot this way. I use one of the POs Priority Mail cardboard flat rate envelopes. I cut it into roughly 3 inch by 9 inch folding sections (you will get 4 out of each Priority Mail envelope). With the coin in a flip, I tape it to the inside of the cardboard, fold it over and tape shut. Then place it into a standard business envelope. It is flexible enough to be machine processed and stays under the 1/4 inch limit.

    That is technically illegal unless it is a used flat rate envelope.

    Not if you're using "used" envelopes. I've got a stash of them (USPS, FedEx and UPS) enough to last me a few years. The point is to use flexible thin cardboard.

    mbogoman

    Asesabi Lutho

    https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/classic-issues-colonials-through-1964/zambezi-collection-trade-dollars/7345
  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,054 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @mbogoman said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @mbogoman said:
    I ship a lot this way. I use one of the POs Priority Mail cardboard flat rate envelopes. I cut it into roughly 3 inch by 9 inch folding sections (you will get 4 out of each Priority Mail envelope). With the coin in a flip, I tape it to the inside of the cardboard, fold it over and tape shut. Then place it into a standard business envelope. It is flexible enough to be machine processed and stays under the 1/4 inch limit.

    That is technically illegal unless it is a used flat rate envelope.

    Not if you're using "used" envelopes. I've got a stash of them (USPS, FedEx and UPS) enough to last me a few years. The point is to use flexible thin cardboard.

    That's what I said: "unless it is a used flat rate envelope".

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

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