Hello:

I live in Seattle. My son has a coin collection that is worth over $100,000. However, it's made up of coins with a face value of $1,200. A coin shop in Vancouver is interested in the collection.

Can he take the coins across the border WITHOUT them being confiscated?

I told him that if he declares the market value, they'll take them and probably charge him with money laundering and terrorisim. But, of course, I hate the government.

What do you think he should do?

excon

Just a thought: For a collection of that value, I'd tell the Coin Dealer to come and get it... and let HIM deal with the crossing the border issue.

Might that work?

Since he'd be transporting the coins into Canada, this is an issue for the Canadian government, not the American one. Try contacting Canadian customs and asking what the procedure would be for transporting $1,200 worth of merchandise into Canada, with the intent of selling it to a collector. He'd probably have to pay the usual duties. Are the coins American? It's unlikely that anyone would suspect him of transporting American money into Canada to launder it. If it were the other way around, then maybe. If you don't get a straight answer from Canadian customs officials or if the procedure proves to be overly prohibitive, then he could always take his chances and put the coins in his suitcase in the trunk of his car and tell the customs officer that he has nothing to declare. He'll have to have a reason for his visit to Canada prepared to give to the customs officers. As long as he doesn't act suspicious then he'll probably get over scot-fee, then off to the buyer in Vancouver.

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Originally Posted by excon

Hello:

I live in Seattle. My son has a coin collection that is worth over $100,000. However, it's made up of coins with a face value of $1,200. A coin shop in Vancouver is interested in the collection.

Can he take the coins across the border WITHOUT them being confiscated?

I told him that if he declares the market value, they'll take them and probably charge him with money laundering and terrorisim. But, of course, I hate the government.

What do you think he should do?

excon

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Read your question - does it matter where YOU live ? Or even where he lives ? You asked "can he take the coins across the border without them being conficated?" Might matter which country he wants to take the coins into - I think one of the answers you got was right on - ask the customs people for the country the coins are being taken into or the US Govt - but wait, you seem to trust our Govt or said you hated the Gov't, then don't ask them, hope you have trust in the other country ! If not, then don't ask them either. The receiving country charge him with terrorism or money laundering ? Sure they can charge him with anything they want to but in most countries it's not a crime to only be charged.

Hello bonddude:

Didn't your mother ever tell you not to say anything, if you didn't have anything nice to say? Nope, I guess she didn't.

excon