# Bring gold coins into US - Declare under $10K? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-gold-coins-into-us-declare-under-10k/659158 "2013-05-23T20:02:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-gold-coins-into-us-declare-under-10k/659158/1 "2013-05-23T20:02:21Z")
I am overseas and have some gold coins that I have owned for years in my apartment here. I’d like to bring them to the US. These are American Eagle, Canadian Maple Leafs and South African Krugerands. I will have maybe 5 coins which collectively are worth under $10,000. Do I need to declare anything to US customs? This makes it seem like any amount of gold needs to be declared. [https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...s,-and-bullion](https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...s,-and-bullion) But is also says that only monetary instruments over $10K need to be declared… and the Eagles and Maple Leafs should be monetary instruments (but possibly not so with the Krugers). Thoughts? Anyone brought gold in recently? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-gold-coins-into-us-declare-under-10k/659158/2 "2013-05-23T20:06:31Z")
Your link was broken. I think this is what you intended to link to (What are the regulations for importing gold coins, medals, and bullion into the U.S.?): [https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a\_id/322/kw/gold/sno/1](https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/322/kw/gold/sno/1) ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-gold-coins-into-us-declare-under-10k/659158/3 "2013-05-23T20:15:32Z")
The OP seems to be assuming that a particular gold coin cannot be both a monetary instrument and gold, for the purposes of US Customs. Why can’t it be both? ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-gold-coins-into-us-declare-under-10k/659158/4 "2013-05-23T20:16:03Z")
Yes, thank you. That is the correct page. I have owned these for years and don’t have receipts, but it is not clear if I need to declare gold under $10K. I certainly have never declared my wedding ring. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-gold-coins-into-us-declare-under-10k/659158/5 "2013-05-23T20:22:21Z")
The link seems pretty clear to me: all gold must be declared, and in addition there’s a form you’ll need to fill out if their value (along with any other monetary instruments) exceeds $10k. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-gold-coins-into-us-declare-under-10k/659158/6 "2013-05-23T20:24:14Z")
That page says, “There is no duty on gold coins, medals or bullion but these items must be declared to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer.” Another page says (under “Upon entering the United States you must declare:”), “All monetary instruments such as traveler’s checks, cash, gold coins, negotiable checks, money orders, promissory notes, and securities or stocks.” It sounds like you must declare the coins. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-gold-coins-into-us-declare-under-10k/659158/7 "2013-05-23T20:25:49Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That page says, “There is no duty on gold coins, medals or bullion but these items must be declared to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer.” Another page says (under “Upon entering the United States you must declare:”), “All monetary instruments such as traveler’s checks, cash, gold coins, negotiable checks, money orders, promissory notes, and securities or stocks.” > > It sounds like you must declare the coins. This also says you have to declare all cash. So if one comes into the USA with $8.17, it has to be declared. Nobody does that. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-gold-coins-into-us-declare-under-10k/659158/8 "2013-05-23T20:32:44Z")
I would fill out the customs form that asks if you have monetary items worth over $10K. They ask specifically about plants, food, etc. that you might be bringing (and even so rarely question you about food) and nothing about gold. If they asked, I would certainly declare them. But it has been 40 years since Americans were forbidden to hold gold.