Packaging

I am busy finalising my first swop on Numista and was hoping that the experienced swoppers out there could share how they package their coins for shipment.

How do you package circulation coins? What type of envelope do you use? etc.

Hello and welcome to the world of Numista. From the numerous swaps I have done there are a miriad of different ways to package your coins. The method I use can be time-consuming, but you have to bear in mind that some countries do not permit "cash" to be sent in the mail and, unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous mail operatives out there who will steal a package if they think it contains money.

I take a piece of thick cardboard, lay out the coins on it and mark around them. Then put the coins to one side (usually in the same order so they go back in the right spot) and make a cut-out for each coin. When making the cut-out, I only remove the top layer of paper and the first layer of corrugation (is that a word?), disposing of the corrugation (infill) but retaining the circular top layer. Then place the coins in their respective holes and place the circular paper discs back on top of each coin. Place a strip of tape across the top of all the coins (the coins are protected from the tape by the paper disc) and the coins are now secure in their pockets. Then place another piece of thick card over the top of the coins and tape the two pieces together. Some people would then place that package into a regular envelope but I use a padded (Jiffy) envelope.

It sounds like a real pain in the backside and, as I said, it can take a little while depending on how many coins you are trading but I prefer to go the extra mile to make sure my coins get to their destination. Best of luck with your first swap and if you're anything like me, to coin a phrase -"Once you've swapped you just can't stop"!

radrick007 packing sounds great ,plus  put in 2 envelopes(jiffys) in case the outer one get torn a bit the coins will still be in good order to be mailed  

Thank you radrick!

I sounds that we might have to do a swop at some stage as I would love to open a package from you!!

i also use hard outer skin ie cardboard but use tinfoil as well to evade a scan of the coin. i tape the "coin holder" to the inside of the envelope so to steal you have to destroy the whole packageing

And please don't use tape on the coins, I received last week again one ...

Απόσπασμα: mic-w-nlAnd please don't use tape on the coins, I received last week again one ...

i know ,i hate that when they do that !!!

wrap the whole thing in tin foil so x-rays cant see.

 If anyone IS going to tape coins, wrap each coin in foil or tissue paper first.  

                                   

 Here is a nice old man in an 11min35sec video ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdP6FWkODe0&feature=related

Απόσπασμα: ZacUKHere is a nice old man in an 11min35sec video ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdP6FWkODe0&feature=related

Wow nice find, ZacUK. Rocky is surely an honest collector with a good sense of humor.  

 Just thought I would add these pictures I made just now, as a member wanted to know how to pack coins. So either one piece of card folded over or two separate pieces - either way make a little bit smaller than envelope (like in first picture). Wrap each coin or two in paper or foil (mainly so they do not rattle). Then tape to card - then fold over the second half or put a second card over the taped-down coins - so that both sides of the outside of the card 'sandwich' are smooth. Do not want coins to catch on the postal machinery. Some people also like a layer of foil so scanning equipment does not show coins.  



  Or in the other Topic below, cut out part of corrugated card ...
https://en.numista.com/forum/topic9091.html

I lost 3 sets of coins in the mail. The 2 times I wrapped coins in foil are the 2 that got lost.
I don’t know if when they scan the coins they can’t see what they are and they then hand inspect the coins. At that point they either keep them or confiscated them.
Did anyone else have this problem?

I never thought of that Ken? It's a good point, perhaps I should leave off the foil.

We all steal the best ideas we can from the packages we receive.  I also steal the best materials for re-use too.  Plastic flips, bubble wrap, etc.

Απόσπασμα: mic-w-nlAnd please don't use tape on the coins, I received last week again one ...

Yeah, nobody likes sticky coins.

I know this is an old forum but I figured I'd give it my two cents. I'm swapping with some one I have never traded with before and I wanted to make sure everything was legit before confirming the swap. So I took a picture of my coins to show him, and I got him to do the same. I also assured him I would send a picture of the coins in the package with the postage on it.

I wanted to share a picutre of how I'm shipping the coins. Its it Numista approved?



Each coin is sealed. I found that the coins don't make any noise in the packaging.



I didn't use any foil. I was concerned that would throw a red flag in any ex-ray machine. So I simply wrapped it in a sheet of paper and darkened it with a sharpie to keep light from showing through it. I tested this, and seen that these plastic envelopes can be seen through with bright light.  

I'm I going overboard? Or do you feel the pic swapping helps to ensure a legit swap?



P.S. I'm shipping these to Croatia. Any stories of shipping coins to Croatia?

If you want to minimize your cost of packing and make a safe job too.... What I do it I take bubble wrap plastic coming with other packings which are normally thrown away. I cut it into rectangular shaped piece, staple the sides first to make it like an envelope with one end open. Put in coins one by one, staple around them (not too many as they will increase your weight otherwise). Then put this bubble wrap pouch with coins into regular envelope and ship. This reduces the weight of cardboards, avoids sticky tapes on coins and also ensures safety of coins. This also ensures coins don't make noise while shipping and remain neatly packed until end.

Απόσπασμα: ilikecoinsI know this is an old forum but I figured I'd give it my two cents. I'm swapping with some one I have never traded with before and I wanted to make sure everything was legit before confirming the swap. So I took a picture of my coins to show him, and I got him to do the same. I also assured him I would send a picture of the coins in the package with the postage on it.

I wanted to share a picutre of how I'm shipping the coins. Its it Numista approved?



Each coin is sealed. I found that the coins don't make any noise in the packaging.



I didn't use any foil. I was concerned that would throw a red flag in any ex-ray machine. So I simply wrapped it in a sheet of paper and darkened it with a sharpie to keep light from showing through it. I tested this, and seen that these plastic envelopes can be seen through with bright light.  

I'm I going overboard? Or do you feel the pic swapping helps to ensure a legit swap?



P.S. I'm shipping these to Croatia. Any stories of shipping coins to Croatia?

How do you seal those coins?

Απόσπασμα: Lotus07How do you seal those coins?

Plastic Bag Impulse Heat sealer
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0&_nkw=Plastic+Bag+Impulse+Heat+sealer&_sacat=0&_from=R40

Απόσπασμα: muralis

Απόσπασμα: Lotus07How do you seal those coins?

Plastic Bag Impulse Heat sealer
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0&_nkw=Plastic+Bag+Impulse+Heat+sealer&_sacat=0&_from=R40

Ahh, thanks!

I also pack coins as the way ilikecoins showed. I think it's the best way for packing coins which I would recommend to all. I have swapped with hundreds of collectors but only 1 used this way.

You see, the Plastic Sealing Machine is relatively cheap, about 15 - 20$. And it save you a lot of time. The package I usually send look like below:



If you haven't got such a machine, I would recommend the same way but doing manually:


I would advise you NOT to use tin foil to cover each coin or the whole package. On scanning of the packages/letters, the workers may wonder "what's inside that the machine can't read?" then they will have to open them for eye checking. And the coins may get lost.

Απόσπασμα: Lotus07How do you seal those coins?

I just got this gizmo a week ago. I don't use the vacuum, just the heat seal. The freezer bags that came with it are tough.

One thing I did find out is that it is not good to leave coins in plastic for long periods of time. I had a few coins that were left in sealed plastic for a few years and they developed a white powdery haze on them. Easy enough to wipe off, but still not good.

Hello,

Good idea to use the gizmo.
I would pack every coin in tissue before pack. I would also use the vacuum: it will avoid the coins to move from left to right.
I gonna buy such a device too!

J.

OH. I received a package of really nice coins today. They were expertly wrapped and they were foil wrapped, too. I were arranged in a bank note sleeve and stapled in place. The sleeve taped to the inside of two pieces of thick paper. Then foil wrapped. And then placed in a padded envelope.

Really sorry I didn't take a picture of all that. I was kinda like a kid at Christmas.

He sent some nice uncirculated coins.



From left to right

1963 unc   2 Franken KM# 21 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces188.html
1979 unc   2 Franken KM# 21a https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces189.html
1998 unc   5 Kroner - Harald V KM# 463 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces1448.html
2011 unc   1 Lira (Brown Bear) KM# 1276 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces21054.html
2008 unc  10 Pence - Elizabeth II KM# 31 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces13839.html
1963        6 Pence - Elizabeth II KM# 26 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces4017.html
2008        1 Pound - Elizabeth II KM# 1113 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces5630.html
2006 unc   1 Centavo KM# 132 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces3119.html
1991        5 Rupees KM# 56 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces1834.html

2010 unc  10 Pence - Elizabeth II KM# 1110 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces7350.html
2010 unc   2 Pence - Elizabeth II KM# 1108 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces4039.html
2010 unc   1 Penny - Elizabeth II KM# 1107 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces4038.html
2010 unc   5 Pence - Elizabeth II KM# 1109 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces6612.html
2010 unc  20 Pence - Elizabeth II KM# 1111 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces5628.html
2010 unc  50 Pence - Elizabeth II KM# 1112 https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces5629.html

Are these https://en.numista.com/catalogue/tristan_da_cunha-1.html coins a legal tender in Tristan da Cunha?

  If you have a sewing machine, some card, and some fabric ...


 I received those coins from a new member, who has nice coins and is very skilled. An original way to separate coins for a swap !  

Απόσπασμα: ZacUKIf you have a sewing machine, some card, and some fabric ...


 I received those coins from a new member, who has nice coins and is very skilled. An original way to separate coins for a swap !  

that is great! Why I am thinking about my wife and her Singer sewing machine now. hmm

Απόσπασμα: Lotus07Are these https://en.numista.com/catalogue/tristan_da_cunha-1.html coins a legal tender in Tristan da Cunha?

I don't know. I just liked the crab. lol

Απόσπασμα: ZacUKIf you have a sewing machine, some card, and some fabric ...


 I received those coins from a new member, who has nice coins and is very skilled. An original way to separate coins for a swap !  

I would like to put my sealer up against a sewing machine. We'll have a seal off competition.

Помогите!
Отправил монеты первый раз. Уже прошло 30 дней. Таможней выпущены, а дальше ничего.
Что надо писать  при отправке монет о содержимом конверта?

Я пишу хобби пунктов в мои таможенные формы.

I'm not sure how well that translates.

Has anyone used a CD mailer to mail coins?

I have been making swaps since 2009 and I send more than 200 letters-pockets. Actually I have tried at least 10 different methods for packaging. Perhaps I make the letters a small pocket if they are more than 250 grams in weight and it's the easy way to make the packing. All you need is small boxes that you can find them everywhere.

There are some important things that you must avoid :

1- no use tape bands- if you will use it- cover all the coins first with thin stretch films or paper pieces.

2- avoid the movements of coins inside the letter- by the way you will prevent the damages OR risk of tears in envelope and the signs that there are coins inside. Most of the time post office workers are in doubt with this.

I'm using a simple and clear method now. I buy bubble sheets and can use a sheet of bubble for 20 letters.
Here are the photos to understand it better.

Nice method eLTuRCo.

So far I have only done small swaps in standard letter-mail.

Because I am trying to fit coins into an envelope meant for flat paper, thinness is key!

First I take a zip-lock bag and staple all the coins in. They will not shift or make noise.

Since this plastic bag with metal inside is still quite bendy, it is wrapped in sturdy card-stock paper.

Result - a lightweight, thin packaging that looks like a normal envelope stuffed with paper only. On small swaps, this will even stay below 50 grams (under 30 is too much to ask for) - now it is only $1.10 to send these coins anywhere in Canada or the USA

Απόσπασμα: nalaberongSo far I have only done small swaps in standard letter-mail.

Because I am trying to fit coins into an envelope meant for flat paper, thinness is key!

First I take a zip-lock bag and staple all the coins in. They will not shift or make noise.

Since this plastic bag with metal inside is still quite bendy, it is wrapped in sturdy card-stock paper.

Result - a lightweight, thin packaging that looks like a normal envelope stuffed with paper only. On small swaps, this will even stay below 50 grams (under 30 is too much to ask for) - now it is only $1.10 to send these coins anywhere in Canada or the USA

I received a swap like that earlier this week. The coins were stapled in plastic and stuck in a Christmas card.

I have just sent a letter to the Ukraine... I have done my best to package it. The stamps are boring so nobody steals them, it is under 30 grams so it just uses letter postage, I'd like to think the packaging is light as a feather and there are a couple stiff cue cards inside so it cannot be seen through. I hope it gets there