Originally Posted by scolbath

Why not sell the gold at its current location and buy an equivalent amount at your destination? Gold is sufficiently liquid that you could probably do both on the same day, and never have to touch an ounce. You will pay some transactional cost, but there is transactional cost on all the previously proposed solutions - this might be the cheapest one.

Originally Posted by bocastephen

I would be concerned about screener theft - too many sticky fingers around. Besides that, they could scream for the police and get them involved.

Technically, you are free to move as much money as you want through the airport. If traveling outside the country, Customs requires you to declare anything over 10k, but that does NOT mean taking or bringing cash or equivalents over 10k is illegal, contrary to some of the ridiculous comments posted by screeners in this forum. You just need to file a form (on the way out), or check your customs declaration on the way in.

Originally Posted by polonius

You do NOT need to declare gold bullion even when travelling with it internationally. Gold COINS need to be declared if their FACE VALUE exceeds 10 000 USD. (a one troy ounce canadian maple leaf coin, worth over 1000 CAD, has a "face value" of 50 CAD).

Originally Posted by Batmanuel

Hundreds of coin dealers fly every few months to attend coin shows with millions of dollars in hand-carried coins/currency/bullion. (I'm a currency buff myself)

Coin forum threads about first-hand dealer experiences differ greatly from the "doom & gloom" guessing in this one. I'm sure there are many stories of Ma & Pa losing their rare coins and such during bag checks to opportunistic thugs. However, I don't recall any stories about coin dealers having the same theft issues with TSA. I'm sure that going in with a large "inventory", knowing what to expect, and requesting a controlled search environment differentiates you. As long as you hand-carry, and nothing of value is checked in, you should be fine.

Travel with a friend, if you can, and bring all of your valuables as carry-on. Its usually possible to get the X-Ray operator's attention, and then to let him know the bag you're about to send through will need a private screening. If you're pretty paranoid, ask that at least one of the screeners checking your bag to be a lead. Two screeners will be in the room with you, and you and your travel companion should have a clear line of sight on both of them as they go through your things. When they're finished, let them know you'd like to repack yourself, and do a mini-inventory of all your belongings before you leave.

Here's a good read on the subject, if you have the time. It's a little dated, (FAA regulation number #108.9???), but the general information is still relevant. Flying Wise: Security in the Skies.

Originally Posted by FlyingHoustonian

Hey modern, while searching for some unrelated freight info, I just read that Continental has a program called COsecure to include Gold over 25k:

Originally Posted by cordelli

If there's no intention to do anything with it for decades, why not just leave it where it is and move it later? Way less hassle, and probably in the long run less expenses.

Originally Posted by polonius

You do NOT need to declare gold bullion even when travelling with it internationally. Gold COINS need to be declared if their FACE VALUE exceeds 10 000 USD. (a one troy ounce canadian maple leaf coin, worth over 1000 CAD, has a "face value" of 50 CAD).

Originally Posted by Tennisbum

Interesting. Not to hijack the topic, but do stock certificates count as "cash equivalents"?

Originally Posted by bocastephen

As I understand it, anything that can be easily or readily transferrable to cash or used as cash. These would be 'money instruments', such as cash, coins, cashier's checks, money orders, travelers checks, etc.

I believe bearer bonds are included, but I'm not sure about stock certificates or stamps.

Originally Posted by Tennisbum

Interesting. Not to hijack the topic, but do stock certificates count as "cash equivalents"?

Originally Posted by Tennisbum

Not to hijack the topic, but do stock certificates count as "cash equivalents"?

Originally Posted by Loren Pechtel

They have names on them.

My understanding is that it's only the stuff that doesn't have names that they care about.

Originally Posted by FinCEN form 105 instructions

Monetary Instruments— (1) Coin or currency of the United States or of any other country, (2) traveler’s checks in any form, (3) negotiable instruments (including checks, promissory notes, and money orders) in bearer form, endorsed without restriction, made out to a fictitious payee, or otherwise in such form that title thereto passes upon delivery, (4) incomplete instruments (including checks, promissory notes, and money orders) that are signed but on which the name of the payee has been omitted, and (5) securities or stock in bearer form or otherwise in such
form that title thereto passes upon delivery. Monetary instruments do not include (i) checks or money orders made payable to the order of a named person which have not been endorsed or which bear restrictive endorsements, (ii) warehouse receipts, or (iii) bills of lading.

Originally Posted by MiddleSeatLover

sorry... with that much gold, you are required to check it as luggage. Make sure you use a TSA-approved lock and clearly mark "HEAVY - GOLD" on the outside.(don't want to injure baggage handlers, right?)

Originally Posted by Exiled in Express

I believe that Registered Mail will work. USPS does, or did, accept valuations over $25,000 with advance notice as the shipment has to have a Postal Inspector accompany it. This is not something I would expect every local post office to know. 1-877-876-2455 will connect you with the nearest USPIS location, 8-430p M-F.