How to ship coins from USA to Europe?

Hi folks,
I need your urgent help/advice.
I'm not so experienced collector, started collecting not long ago. I only collect modern (1950-today) regular circulating and circulating commemorative coins.
Recently I've started buying coins off of ebay. I use mail forwarding service to ship my items to my European address (I'm in Croatia) and so far I got some of my purchased coins shipped along with some other items, in consolidated packages. Never had any issue nor mail forwarder even mentioned it is prohibited.
Until a few weeks ago, since when I've lost a ton of nerves and time trying to resolve this issue. Unsuccessfully... :(

This is the story: I got about 10 small packages containing coins only consolidated into bigger one and ordered shipping. Though after a few days I received email saying that package was returned to sender (mail forwarding service) and can't be shipped. I quickly reached them asking what is it about and got reply that it is prohibited to ship coins and they won't ship my package. And they can either return it to seller or liquidate it. >:( It's obviously not possible to return it to one seller since, as I said, there are coins from numerous ebay purchases in it.
I tried to get some extra info from them, tried to explain that my coins are all numismatic products, all different, all of modern date, no gold, silver or any precious metal. All just cheap coins of small denominations from mostly exotic countries. Though their answer is always the same - coins are on the prohibited items list and carriers don't accept shipping them, and they won't ship my package.
Then I reached USPS customers support over the FB and lady told me that there's no any restriction in shipping collectible coins (numismatic products)! On the other side, UPS representative told me that they don't allow shipping coins.

Thus I want to ask anyone who sell coins in States and ship internationally, or anyone who use to get coins shipped from USA - how to do that?!
Are the coins really prohibited items? In there any catch with how to fill customs declaration, how to name items in package or something?
Forwarding service later told me that I will be only allowed to ship the package within USA.
I can send it to some of my Croatian friends living there. But what if they won't be able to ship it to Croatia once they receive it?
I'm really confused about all this. And pretty much pissed off.

I don't get the point of numerous people selling on ebay and shipping abroad, if it's prohibited to ship coins.
How do coins dealers use to receive large quantities of coins regularly from abroad?
Also, how do you guys do swaps and ship to each other, if it's prohibited to ship coins?
Is it related to domestic and destination country and its customs?
Is it our only way to ship coins to use "tricks" in packaging to bypass controls by post office and by carriers?
Please teach me on this. It's very important to me not only because of this particular package but also for my future purchases.
It seems that I'll have to find sellers living in EU countries to buy from if shipping from USA won't work.
Any help is appreciated. I don't want to loose my hard earned money spent for those coins.

Thank you.

The prohibition refers to currency, not coins and it's intent is to stop money laundering, not criminalize coin collectors. Unfortunately, large corporations and government departments have to comply with quota hiring mandates so it's very common to find yourself having to deal with some moron who can't fathom the distinction between currency and numismatic items.

I don't think it's possible to make such idiots see sense, they get a paycheck every Friday whether they bother trying to do a half way decent job or not. Keep trying, you will eventually reach someone with more brain cells than teeth.

The best option of course is to avoid these halfwits in the first place. Find yourself a trusted US contact and have him take delivery of the coins, consolidate them into a single package which can be mailed as "hobby supplies" or "numismatic items". Describing the contents as "coins" is just asking for trouble. I've done this for several collectors in Europe and even in Mexico.

Yeah, it seems it's about the different understanding of term "coins" (collectibles/numismatic products) and distinguishing it from "currency". And also about "acceptable" describing of the package content.
Though some carriers likely don't accept coins in any form, regardless what they are and what the description is, at least as I was told.
This is what I was told by mail forwarding service as a reason of refusing to ship my package:
"According to our logistics team, who contacted our carriers about this, they stated that our carriers (DHL, USPS, airmail economy, etc...) tell us that after checking with their commercial team "COINS ARE CONSIDERED CURRENCY AND NOT ALLOWED TO SHIP". We have sent all the information you provided along to the carrier to confirm if your items can be shipped and they confirmed that they cannot take your shipment. We sincerely apologize for the delays and inconveniences."

Phil is right. The US Postal Service clerks in my town have told me they won't allow me to mail 'coins,' 'currency' or 'money,' so what I do is either use the automated machine or tell the clerk the package contains other items, such as hobby supplies, pictures, and in one instance, a compact disc. I haven't had any trouble shipping coins using this method.
If you package the items so they are secure and cannot be detected or identified, that makes it easier. Most collectors I've talked to and heard from on this site put their coins in holders and secure them between solid sheets of cardboard or paper, so they don't rattle or can be felt through the envelope.
I hope this helps.

Aye, I reckon there are several forum topics already with complete instructions on how to mail coins overseas, basically - secure them well and tell white lies about the contents. All good advice but it really only applies to swaps with fellow collectors. Most ebay sellers don't have the time or the incentive to go to such lengths.

Long term the solution is to stop voting for stupid people who draft stupid legislation. Short term, our friend here has a parcel stuck in postal limbo which he needs to get out. I would be upset over the loss of a single parcel, I can't imagine what this poor bloke is feeling over the loss of ten! Let's see if we can't work out a solution for him.

The problem is that his carrier refuses to deliver the packages and as they are from a variety of senders, returning them to the point of origin isn't possible. Their only solution being offered is to "liquidate" the parcel, whatever that means. I reckon they either add the contents to the Postal Union Christmas Fund or they simply destroy it.

The only way out that I can see is to have the parcel redirected to a reliable contact in the US, who will take delivery, repackage it properly, fill out a new 2976-R customs declaration listing the contents as something other than "coins" and mail it. Any costs incurred would of course be reimbursed by the happy recipient.

Would that work my dear bjede?

Hello,
I often get coins between Austria and US, both ways (last ones were for the Xmas Numista exchange ), and never had a problem. Just say nothing. No lie, no custom form, no registering. Usps airmail works well.
Though I never sent 500g of coins, usually less than 100.
It is not cheap though if it is beyond the small letter.

Citeer: "JRo69"​Phil is right. The US Postal Service clerks in my town have told me they won't allow me to mail 'coins,' 'currency' or 'money,' so what I do is either use the automated machine or tell the clerk the package contains other items, such as hobby supplies, pictures, and in one instance, a compact disc. I haven't had any trouble shipping coins using this method.
​If you package the items so they are secure and cannot be detected or identified, that makes it easier. Most collectors I've talked to and heard from on this site put their coins in holders and secure them between solid sheets of cardboard or paper, so they don't rattle or can be felt through the envelope.
​I hope this helps.

​Tnx for the answer. If so, then I'm not sure why I was told by USPS representative that there's no restriction in shipping coins.
Also, my package is big, not just envelope. It's about 250 coins in total (about 8 lbs).

Citeer: "Ecapoe"​Hello,
​I often get coins between Austria and US, both ways (last ones were for the Xmas Numista exchange ), and never had a problem. Just say nothing. No lie, no custom form, no registering. Usps airmail works well.
​Though I never sent 500g of coins, usually less than 100.
​It is not cheap though if it is beyond the small letter.
​
​

Yes, letters are the best way to mail one or two coins. It's cheap, roughly $2 and there's no need for a customs declaration. Anything above that has to go via parcel, roughly $15 - $25 and has to be accompanied by a completed form. Even parcels to Canada require one but not Alaska ! ​

The good news is that parcel post now includes free tracking. Until 2017, if you wanted tracking you had to pay an extra $13 or so for registered mail. It does also include a quite substantial amount of free insurance and extra can be purchased for just a small payment per each $100.

However it pretty useless. If you list the contents on the form as having a value in excess of $20 (varies by country), your parcel we be held at customs until your partner pays import taxes. To avoid this, just about everyone lists the value as no more than $10. All well and good until you try to make a claim for the $200 of lost coins and it gets denied when the USPS loss adjuster points to the $10 figure on the customs dec.

It's largely academic anyway. The insurance will reimburse you for coins lost within the US borders with no customs complications.... at full face value. I know of a bloke who mailed several high grade Indian Head cents, using insured mail. When they were lost by the Post Office he received a check for 13c. I believe they will make an exception if the coins are certified or you have a valuation from a licensed dealer.

Either way, it's a big mess.

We have the same problem in NZ .
Only for less than 20 coins
I hope this can help as I get coins from USA and Canada.
State numismatic items --gift

http://safetmailer.com/www.safetmailer.com/store/

Citeer: "fourmack"​We have the same problem in NZ .
​Only for less than 20 coins
​I hope this can help as I get coins from USA and Canada.
​State numismatic items --gift
​
​http://safetmailer.com/www.safetmailer.com/store/

​You want to say that I shouldn't get shipped more than 20 coins at once?
The problem is - i have like 12 times that in my consolidated package.

I don't know the rules that apply when sending items from USA to Europe, but some countries definitely allow sending coins by mail legally. As I understand it, usually certain restrictions exist (which vary from country to country), for example, that one cannot send coins and other valuable items without declarations and insurance.
As an example, Swiss post page says that

Swiss Post can help you safely transport valuables, securities, banknotes, precious metals, watches, jewellery and other valuable goods. [...] Other goods. This includes all goods that have not been listed above (i.e. numismatic coins made from non-precious metal). https://www.post.ch/en/business/a-z-of-subjects/designing-packaging-addressing/packaging-and-addressing-parcels/sending-valuables-safely

However, it seems most collectors in Numista and other similar sites don't use such services. They usually take the risk to exchange coins by mail illegally, just because this option is much cheaper for people who collect normal (nonexpensive) coins and exchange them in small quantities.

P.S.: there are many threads on this topic, for example https://en.numista.com/forum/topic55424.html

Hi again folks. Here's an update on my issue.
I finally got my coins shipped to my acquaintance in California who will repack them and ship to me to Croatia.
Now comes the most important (and trickiest part).
I would like to check if she has to choose some particular mailing service and is it recommended to pay insurance? I googled, and people recommend registered mail for shipping coins internationally. What about economy or priority airmail? Is it less safe? What's the difference?
Regarding insurance, I read that most carriers (UPS, USPS, etc) have clauses in their user agreements which allow them to automatically decline insurance claims for lost packages which contain coins, claiming they are of "unusual value" or forbidden to accept them for shipment at all. Not sure if there's even sense then to insure package. Though it shouldn't be very expensive, right? Just a few extra bucks. I guess both airmail and registered mail offer insurance?
And last question - does she have to put any declared value on package? Or it's mandatory, in case she would have to fill international customs form? I'm asking this because of local customs office and potential duties I'd have to pay.

Tnx for all your help and advices.
Hope to get this over soon.

Any advice guys? :/

I'm having a package sent over from the US to the UK soon. The import tax will be 5% (+ The Fedex admin fee) as I properly declare.

How much is your package worth?

I have been sending coins via USPS in padded envelopes if there are a lot of coins as well as in business envelopes and have so far only lost one envelope. The few I filled out a customs slip for I listed the contents as tokens play money gifts photos and documents and had no problems. I wrap each coin in foil or plastic wrap then tape them down between two sheets of cardboard so they do not rattle and there is no way to tell what is really in the package. This info I learned from other members as well as a clerk at USPS. Others I have sent just using stamps no customs slip which is slow and you must keep the weight below 4 oz. I hope this helps. I hope you get your coins. There are so many restrictions nowadays limits on everything it is stupid crazy.

Citeer: "oggy"​I'm having a package sent over from the US to the UK soon. The import tax will be 5% (+ The Fedex admin fee) as I properly declare.
​
​How much is your package worth?

​$100
Though I don't care what the customs fee will be. I'm just curious if my acquaintance has to choose some particular shipping option and if she has to pay insurance.