Can I fly with gold coins/bullion?
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: The Sunshine State
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I'll do the OP one better to relieve him of his problem. Just mail it to me--postage collect. I figure I can afford to pay for 15 pounds of freight.
#18
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
The only practical way to move the gold would be to drive it yourself.
Maybe rent a nice car, and see some of the country.
This is the only real way to avoid a possible national incident.
My advise would be stay the f* away from any airport with gold. It cannot possibly turn out well!
Maybe rent a nice car, and see some of the country.
This is the only real way to avoid a possible national incident.
My advise would be stay the f* away from any airport with gold. It cannot possibly turn out well!
As for the airport, jewelry dealers and coin dealers move products of substantial value through the airport all the time. Probably the lowest risk would be to request private screening before entering the checkpoint - I will guarantee that the quantity of metal you're discussing will be flagged for a bag check at the x-ray. Indicate that you're carrying high-value items and don't want to be exposed as to the item or the value in public.
I would also talk with an attorney experienced at seizure laws. Have their number on speed-dial. Be prepared to call them. If you can get some proof that it's yours (in advance), you'll be able to answer the inevitable questions.
Pretty disgusting in Amerika that you now have to prove you're not a criminal in order to engage in a perfectly legal operation.....
#20
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,536
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.
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
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The problem with Registered Mail is the insurance ends when the shipment is signed for by anyone. Right now, I do not have a residence in the other state, so the shipment would either have to go to me at a hotel (where if lost between delivery and my room I am out of luck) or to a UPS store where I have a private mailbox (again, it is uninsured after delivery before I pick it up).
#22
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: United
Posts: 2,710
The problem with Registered Mail is the insurance ends when the shipment is signed for by anyone. Right now, I do not have a residence in the other state, so the shipment would either have to go to me at a hotel (where if lost between delivery and my room I am out of luck) or to a UPS store where I have a private mailbox (again, it is uninsured after delivery before I pick it up).
#24
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
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Posts: 3,540
As a coin and currency collector, I travel often with several large rolls of coins (gold, silver, clad) and they will ALWAYS trigger a search for me. Even one roll. It is dense and the screeners cannot see through it. Ingots would most likely do the same. There is no law against traveling with any amount of gold or money (contrary to some views in the TSA). Many times I have no problems with the TSOs, occasionally they ask some inane questions.
The most feckless was with two ~20 coin rolls of Ike Dollars and one roll of silver Peace Dollars in plastic tubes which a TSAer wanted to open and touch each coin, to which I had a minor fit, as he didn't have gloves on. I will give credit to the supervisor at PBI who agreed with me and told the line TSO to go away. I did have an outbound customs check once ask me about a roll of Ikes, whereas I said they are worth facevalue or maybe 25c more than face so a 25$ roll of coins is below the 10k limit I sell them back in Europe for 3-5 Euros a piece and even that is below the limit. Then they let me go.
It would be adviseable to have purchase receipts or proof of ownership for most of it however (I try and carry such when available). I have also heard of some coin and bullion dealers telling the airport in advance they are coming so the 3 striper at the line knows you are coming.
Ciao,
FH
The most feckless was with two ~20 coin rolls of Ike Dollars and one roll of silver Peace Dollars in plastic tubes which a TSAer wanted to open and touch each coin, to which I had a minor fit, as he didn't have gloves on. I will give credit to the supervisor at PBI who agreed with me and told the line TSO to go away. I did have an outbound customs check once ask me about a roll of Ikes, whereas I said they are worth facevalue or maybe 25c more than face so a 25$ roll of coins is below the 10k limit I sell them back in Europe for 3-5 Euros a piece and even that is below the limit. Then they let me go.
It would be adviseable to have purchase receipts or proof of ownership for most of it however (I try and carry such when available). I have also heard of some coin and bullion dealers telling the airport in advance they are coming so the 3 striper at the line knows you are coming.
Ciao,
FH
#27
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
The problem with Registered Mail is the insurance ends when the shipment is signed for by anyone. Right now, I do not have a residence in the other state, so the shipment would either have to go to me at a hotel (where if lost between delivery and my room I am out of luck) or to a UPS store where I have a private mailbox (again, it is uninsured after delivery before I pick it up).
#28
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
You will be carrying 12 lbs of gold worth about a quarter of a million dollars if you are moving 200 ounces of it. While you probably have a perfectly legal right to move it, I would expect it to draw considerable attention and a referral to the law enforcement people as to why you are doing so.
I wouldn't call that being singled out, if you were stopped for a traffic stop and they noticed $245,000 in cash in a duffle bag on the back seat, they would probably have those same questions.
I can only imagine what the questions would be the second time you went though the airport and with some really bad luck ended up with the same law enforcement people with another quarter of a million dollars
I second the bonded secure courier service that specializes in things like this, even if it's just you dropping it off at a depot where you are and picking it up at one near where you are going.
I wouldn't call that being singled out, if you were stopped for a traffic stop and they noticed $245,000 in cash in a duffle bag on the back seat, they would probably have those same questions.
I can only imagine what the questions would be the second time you went though the airport and with some really bad luck ended up with the same law enforcement people with another quarter of a million dollars
I second the bonded secure courier service that specializes in things like this, even if it's just you dropping it off at a depot where you are and picking it up at one near where you are going.
#29
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#30
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 234
One other option...
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.