We three kings be transportin' the gold

Post date: 2022-05-19 04:07:51

Asking for a friend: how does one transport a large amount of precious metals in the form of bars and coins across state lines? There may not be enough documentation to pass through TSA inspection, is driving it the only option?

A friend of mine recently had a relative pass away, and said relative had converted most of their money into gold and silver bars and coins that were hidden away in various places on their property. Friend combed the property to gather everything and put it in a safe deposit box for now in order to prevent nosy neighbors with too much access from taking it (relative was free with information and house keys in their later years, and shady neighbors/friends had meddled greatly in their financial dealings as a result).

The stash is pretty large, which would make it quite cumbersome to transport on an airplane, requiring a separate piece of luggage. Upon researching, we've learned that TSA allows for travelers to take up to $1 million worth of precious metal with them on a plane but it should be properly documented. There is no documentation that my friend could find for this metal (relative started purchasing in the 70s and 80s and was not well organized about this). The relative's property is in a different state from where my friend lives and they usually fly back and forth to there, but it is possible to take a long drive to retrieve the stash if necessary. My friend does not want to sell the bars and coins in the state where it is currently located and wants to bring it back to their home while they figure out what to do with it.

My question is, is there any way to take this on a plane without inviting some kind of investigation? What type of documentation would my friend need? Or will my friend have to plan a summer road trip to get everything back home?

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