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If you're flying home from LAX this weekend...
MrEureka
Posts: 24,792 ✭✭✭✭✭
I left the show early and just went through security at Terminal 4. As usual, TSA wanted to inspect my carry-on baggage, and I asked for a private search, which was granted. When going through my bag, TSA insisted on spreading my coins out in their little plastic trays, one next to another, like they were setting up a coin show, so that they could then run the coins through the X-Ray machine again. (Apparently, it was not enough to look at each individual raw coin and slab as they were searching my bag.) Naturally, I protested, very politely, but I got nowhere with them. (I did, however, manage to get one of them to laugh at me like the piece of dirt I apparently am. Thanks, Ms. Gilbert!)
Fortunately, I had shipped most of my coins home, so I only had about 40 coins with me, and not much value. If I was carrying my full inventory, it could have been a nightmare.
The reason I'm posting this, other than to vent and to kill some time while waiting for my flight, is that I can imagine what things could look like at LAX when more than 1000 dealers (with hundreds or thousand of coins each) show up at LAX on tomorrow and Saturday. And if you have a similar imagination, you may want to show up earlier than usual at the airport.
Good luck, everybody!
Fortunately, I had shipped most of my coins home, so I only had about 40 coins with me, and not much value. If I was carrying my full inventory, it could have been a nightmare.
The reason I'm posting this, other than to vent and to kill some time while waiting for my flight, is that I can imagine what things could look like at LAX when more than 1000 dealers (with hundreds or thousand of coins each) show up at LAX on tomorrow and Saturday. And if you have a similar imagination, you may want to show up earlier than usual at the airport.
Good luck, everybody!
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
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<< <i>I left the show early and just went through security at Terminal 4. As usual, TSA wanted to inspect my carry-on baggage, and I asked for a private search, which was granted. When going through my bag, TSA insisted on spreading my coins out in their little plastic trays, one next to another, like they were setting up a coin show, so that they could then run the coins through the X-Ray machine again. (Apparently, it was not enough to look at each individual raw coin and slab as they were searching my bag.) Naturally, I protested, very politely, but I got nowhere with them. (I did, however, manage to get one of them to laugh at me like the piece of dirt I apparently am. Thanks, Ms. Gilbert!)
Fortunately, I had shipped most of my coins home, so I only had about 40 coins with me, and not much value. If I was carrying my full inventory, it could have been a nightmare.
The reason I'm posting this, other than to vent and to kill some time while waiting for my flight, is that I can imagine what things could look like at LAX when more than 1000 dealers (with hundreds or thousand of coins each) show up at LAX on tomorrow and Saturday. And if you have a similar imagination, you may want to show up earlier than usual at the airport.
Good luck, everybody! >>
What a bunch of ... I'm not flying through LAX anymore. I'm now part of the ex-LAX party!
Leaving Long Beach early????
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
roadrunner
Their procedure is to take an empty tray and sit it upside down on top of the tray containing the coins. Of course the curtain-thingy on the X-Ray machine immediately knocked the top tray off it's perch, but they did replace it after the whole mess came through the machine.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Sometimes, "fat and bald" has its rewards!
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>Too bad they didn't do a full body search for any "hidden" coins.
roadrunner >>
Fixed it for you...
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
eBaystore
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
siliconvalleycoins.com
Dennis
Like VOC Numismatics on facebook
EAC 6024
Just curious.
<< <i>Does the process of Xraying harm on the coins, or slabs?
Just curious. >>
No harm, actually quite the opposite... if you look at Andy's table after he's flown, his toned coin inventory actually doubles!
<< <i>Does the process of Xraying harm on the coins, or slabs?
Just curious. >>
You've heard the term "glowing with luster," right?
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
<< <i>
<< <i>Does the process of Xraying harm on the coins, or slabs?
Just curious. >>
You've heard the term "glowing with luster," right? >>
.
CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC FOR SALE
Wondercoin
<< <i>At least they didn't do a full body search for any "hidden" coins.
Sometimes, "fat and bald" has its rewards! >>
Hey, you ain't fat...........
<< <i>Does the process of Xraying harm on the coins, or slabs?
Just curious. >>
Shouldn't hurt the coins, but I vaguely recall back during the anthrax scare when they were x-raying(?) mail that there was some concern that the machines used for that were degrading paper in some manner. No doubt it was different equipment that used at airports today, so I don't know if it is relevant.
TD
We've decided that to avoid any potential issues, we are going to just go ahead and sell everything while we're here at the show.
<< <i>You should have seen what happened to me at the International Terminal at LAX last month!! To begin with, every coin was tested for explosive agents!!
Wondercoin >>
The PCGS sniffer may not be able to detect your doctoring techniques... but NO ONE, not even Mitch, can fool the fine employees of the TSA!!!
<< <i>I have taken coins in my carryon baggage several times and have never had an issue at LAX or any other airport. Cheers, RickO >>
I'm sure Andy has as well, but the current team in place at LAX may be operating under different rules.
<< <i>
<< <i>Does the process of Xraying harm on the coins, or slabs?
Just curious. >>
Shouldn't hurt the coins, but I vaguely recall back during the anthrax scare when they were x-raying(?) mail that there was some concern that the machines used for that were degrading paper in some manner. >>
No, x-rays will not effect coins or slabs. X-rays will not effect paper either.
-from your resident Radiologic Technologist
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
To clarify my above post, the x-ray machines used in airports will not effect coins, slabs, or paper.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
<< <i>To clarify my above post, the x-ray machines used in airports will not effect coins, slabs, or paper. >>
Just people.
These folks are begining to sound like ex Frustrator Postal Clerks.
The name is LEE!
<< <i>X-Raying each individual slab makes as much sense as body searching a 5 year kid or an 89 year old grand mother!
These folks are begining to sound like ex Frustrator Postal Clerks. >>
Except that would be insulting Postal Clerks
Coins have been used as ballistic particles in bombs in the past just like nails, nuts and bolts, and ball bearings.
Sorry but sometimes a dose of reality needs to be taken.
thanks for the heads up!
im dropping my dad off, coinless, for a flight Sat AM.
<< <i>My only recent negatory experience has been going through scrutiny in-security over Suisse Bank gold bars in Amsterdam a few months back. In the old country, gold is money, much more than paper. After pawing my riches for all to see they handed them back to me and let me on my way. >>
Did you count the bars in front of them when they handed them back to you?
You must have pi$$ed someone off pretty bad......I went through at 10am this morning and they didn't even look.
Check out my PQ selection of Morgan & Peace Dollars, and more at:
WWW.PQDOLLARS.COM or WWW.GILBERTCOINS.COM
<< <i>
<< <i>My only recent negatory experience has been going through scrutiny in-security over Suisse Bank gold bars in Amsterdam a few months back. In the old country, gold is money, much more than paper. After pawing my riches for all to see they handed them back to me and let me on my way. >>
Did you count the bars in front of them when they handed them back to you? >>
Only had a couple. Curiously they passed over the RCM maples.
DO you have the right to demand them back and exit the airport?
<< <i>What are your legal rights, if any, if a TSA agent says that he is going to file into the edge of your coins to make sure there are no explosives inside them?
DO you have the right to demand them back and exit the airport? >>
Your scenario is a little far fetched. Don't lose too much sleep worrying about this.
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>What are your legal rights, if any, if a TSA agent says that he is going to file into the edge of your coins to make sure there are no explosives inside them?
DO you have the right to demand them back and exit the airport? >>
Your scenario is a little far fetched. Don't lose too much sleep worrying about this. >>
Sounds like Andy caught a real Barney Fife going thru the line. What ARE the limits to what Barney can do???????
I'd estimate that I've gone through airport security with my coins about 2000 times over the years, and 200 of those times were at LAX. This is the first time I've every had anything like this happen to me.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.