Packaging Your Metal for Shipment to Us

Packaging your bullion to withstand the rigors of shipment and prevent damage or loss of valuable contents is very important. Do not risk lowering the value of the bullion you ship to us because inadequate packaging allowed internal battering of contents. Please follow the guidelines below — they are for your protection; Northwest Territorial Mint is not responsible for loss or damage that occurs prior to arrival at our facility.

General Guidelines
Most damage occurs because items inside the box shift and damage each other or the shipping container. Make sure that your items cannot shift or move around inside the box. Heavy bars and rounds, if loose, can damage or rupture cardboard boxes from the inside during normal handling by any carrier.

Use two boxes, one inside the other, to contain your metal. The inner box should hold the metal tightly so it cannot become scratched by adjacent objects.

When packing the outer box, line the inside of the container with a few layers of bubble wrap or corrugated cardboard before you put in your items. Finish with another few layers at the top of the box before it is closed.

Bars and ingots
Tightly wrap each bar or ingot separately in bubble wrap or pieces of corrugated cardboard to prevent them from damaging the container and any other items inside. If you are shipping more than one bar, tape the wrapped bars together so they do not bounce against each other in transit.

Coins in Tubes
If your coins are packed in plastic coin tubes, fill any empty space in the tube with something soft (tissue, paper towel, etc.) to keep the coins inside from rattling against each other and damaging their appearance.

Use packing tape to secure the lid onto the coin tube during shipment. Wrap the coin tube in bubble plastic to protect the shipping container from being damaged by the heavy tube. Pack additional bubble plastic or corrugated cardboard around the tube so it cannot move around in the container during shipment.

Loose Coins
Any coins with numismatic value above their metal value should be individually wrapped to prevent damage caused by rubbing against other coins. Coins can lose significant numismatic value when they are improperly packed. Protective sleeves can be purchased from any coin dealer.

Loose coins should be packed in heavyweight plastic bags such as zipper-lock freezer bags (sandwich bags are too thin and are likely to split in transit). These bags should then be sealed with packing tape and wrapped in a layer of bubble wrap.

The drawstrings on decorative cloth bags are usually inadequate for keeping the bag closed during shipment, and the coin can slip out of the bag. Cloth bags should be packed in heavyweight plastic bags, sealed with tape, and wrapped in bubble wrap.
Heavyweight canvas bags are suitable for non-numismatic coins (such as 90-percent U.S. silver coin). Heavy canvas bags for bulk coins should be securely tied and knotted.

Before Closing the Container
Be sure to insert a packing list that describes the contents and includes your contact information and order confirmation number..

Sealing the Container
Be sure to seal every edge of the container with packing tape. Coins and small bars can slip through the gaps along any unsealed edges of the shipping box.

Sending your Metal
We highly recommend that you register and fully insure your package, and include a packing slip with your name and phone number along with detailed package contents.

Ship your metal via U.S. Postal Service to:

Northwest Territorial Mint
P.O. Box 2148
Auburn, WA 98071-2148

Or, if you ship with a carrier other than the U.S. Postal Service, ship to:

Northwest Territorial Mint
1307 West Valley Highway North
Suite 101
Auburn, WA 98001