James,
I read on your blog where you said that you can fit $178 worth or nickels into a standard U.S. .30 cal ammunition can. Well, I’ve been able to stuff $190 worth into every can so far. I don’t know why others can only get 89 rolls while I can get 95 rolls into the same space. Might I suggest stacking them directly on top of each other instead of letting the next row rest in the previous rows’ valley. Visualize stacking them not like a rack of pool balls or bowling pins, but rather like a brick of AA batteries. Whether it is paper or plastic roll of coins,you will get the same results. Also, these ammo cans full of nickels might offer some degree of ballistic and gamma ray protection so that’s something to think about as well if you’re doing any critical ‘remodeling’ at home with regards to clandestine storage issues.
An OPSEC issue to be concerned with is the disposal of the empty cardboard nickel boxes. Around here, I burn them to get rid of them. Slipping them one at a time into the trash can at the gas station is another discreet way to get rid of them. Don’t just throw then into your trash only to be discovered by a snooping neighbor or worse, a criminal type.
Also, I am able to secure $1,000 worth every week from now until I say uncle from two different banks that I utilize. For free. A piece of cake. What most people don’t realize is that the change warehouse where the retail bank orders its change from, (typically Loomis or Brinks,) charges the bank per box delivered. This is why you have to be careful and feel out your bankers and your tellers before asking for anything in quantity. Once you build up a good rapport with them, they are more likely to acquiesce to your request. A box of doughnuts on a cold Friday morning or a $10 cake could save you many times that in cost per box of accumulation. Be smart and use your tact and diplomacy and it will go a long way here.
My advice to anyone starting out to accumulate is to start out small. Use multiple branches. Ask the teller for $20 worth of nickels at first. Do that for a few weeks and when you feel comfortable enough, just say that you want to get more if possible. This is the key moment because if they say yes and then arrange to get them for you, then you’re home free. If they mention a fee per roll or box to continue supplying you with nickels, just say that you were curious and that’s okay, you didn’t know about the fees and just continue to get your 10 rolls a week from that branch while continuing to work on softening them up for free boxes someday. Eventually they’ll probably start ordering some boxes for you for free. Remember, it’s totally up to the employees at the bank whether to charge you fees or not so like I said earlier, have patience and use your tact and diplomacy to get them on your ‘side’ and you should have no problems getting as many nickels as you want.
Curiously, at both banks, they were more concerned that I was going to return them en-mass someday as they obviously don’t want to be ‘stuck’ with a boatload of returned nickels. I just smile as I think to myself, “Like that will ever happen!” I reassure them by telling them that I am saving the nickels to take to Vegas someday in my RV. It draws a curious smile and nary a second thought from them as they know us gambler types have some strange proclivities!
Folks, I agree with James Rawles. Trading worthless fiat paper currency for hard metal currency with real metal value is obvious. I have told five friends about this and they are now all accumulating nickels. Lucky for me, they live in other states so I don’t have to compete with them for boxes at the banks. One of my friends just sold one of his spare cars and put the proceeds in nickels. And he’s very tough to convince about anything!
My advice is to have strong resolve, patience, and be courteous to the tellers. Never lose sight of the fact that they are doing you a favor that they do not have to do, and you should be well on your way to massive nickel accumulation! – Rick in Kentucky