i must have been asleep yesterday when I picked up all those coins, because the penny didn't drop until this morning that they were Armaguard bags. From a bank! Westpac in fact.
What's odd about this is that outside of Canberra, all the banks were using Chubb or Brinks. And of course, only Armaguard have new coin, so the only way to get them since at least 2002 has been from a supermarket, or drive to Canberra (been there, done that).
So, a quick chat with the very helpful teller from yesterday reveals that they changed over two months ago, and that there is a rotation system in place, and presumably all branches will be switching eventually.
It would be a very good idea to hit all your local Westpacs (and maybe the others), and find out if they have changed, or when they will, if at all. It would make it much, much easier to source new coin in bulk. :angel:
I noticed at bunnings the other day they use armaguard and other places use chub, they're the only two I've seen gettin around here..and I think I've seen armaguard at the RTA as well
Armaguard do all the major retailers, but its useless since they put in those damned coin dispensers. Before that, I had a sweeeeet deal with a couple of Coles and Safeway stores, who would ring me when anything interesting showed up, and I'd take in rolls to swap for them.
Oh, and speaking of rolls, they're still rolling 50¢, in plain wrappers (the $1 were all in those stupid yellow bags).
Most of my noodling coins come from the local Westpac branch. All the ones they order in for me are in Armaguard bulk bags -some have Armarguard roll wrappers, some have plain roll wrappers and some are in Armaguard small bags inside the bulk bags.
I did get some once that were in generic, peel off adhesive, fold over and seal flap bags. I assume that meant they had temporarily run short of their own bags that they heat seal.
jeff
Quote from: 'JeffH' pid='17952' dateline='1371081187'I did get some once that were in generic, peel off adhesive, fold over and seal flap bags.
CBA have been using those for a while now to send coin back to the security company. Presumably they just go straight back out again. If Westpac are now using them as well, it may mean the demise of the beloved calico bags
(all CBA's disappeared overnight). Better stock up now, while you still can.
As a matter of interest, how long ago did they switch up your way?
I got this about 12 months or more ago from comm bank (http://i41.tinypic.com/35a5b9e.jpg)
Yup, same as the one in my hot little hand right now. But AFAIK, the bank buys them direct, and they still use.. Brinks, I think? At any rate, I think they're a stupid idea when we have so many issues with carbon emissions and the like. Especially when it appears they sent all the cloth bags to the tip or incinerator.
Westpac uses the peel and stick bags to return.
They have given me a bundle so I can pack my noodling returns, ready to send straight back.
Quote from: 'JeffH' pid='17968' dateline='1371085200'Westpac uses the peel and stick bags to return.
They have given me a bundle so I can pack my noodling returns, ready to send straight back.
Really? I still get brand new cloth bags every time I ask for them, and of course ziplocks by the boxfull ;)
OBTW, http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/recycling-symbols-plastics-460321 is a handy reference for plastics. Stay away from #3, PVC. But Polyethylene is safe.
I live in Perth and the local Westpac I bank with uses Armaguard and that branch which supplies the local IGA a minute down the road. Bunnings have been pretty good in supplying brand new coins as well. I also have a friend that's 2IC at a Bankwest branch in Perth's northern suburbs who lets me know when anything good shows up from Armaguard (albeit in those coloured bags though).
I have tried everywhere here in Melbourne to source new coins without any luck at all.
I am going to open up an acc with westpac, I know alot of the bank staff here at Elanora and today I went into every branch and asked if they could keep all the paper notes that come in, first teller said here are 10 $1 notes, all CoA 2 coombs wilson 1 with centre thread one normal, prefix AAC and AAG the others phillips wheeler and phillips randall all well worn. But buying them at face value you can't lose?
Quote from: 'Goldseeker' pid='18028' dateline='1371119060'I have tried everywhere here in Melbourne to source new coins without any luck at all.
If I succeed in getting notice of new arrivals, I'm happy to cut you in, mate. First step is tracking down branches using Armaguard. Then it'll be a matter of getting friendly enough for them to agree to call.
Hopefully all in place by the time new coin starts dropping. I might also try Armaguard's depot in Port Melbourne again. I know they won't supply me, but maybe they'd be willing to say when they start shipping new issues out.
Been there, done that with most of the security firms for zero co-operation. Not sure if I am willing to go again.
Quote from: 'Fulvio' pid='18081' dateline='1371161379'Quote from: 'Goldseeker' pid='18028' dateline='1371119060'I have tried everywhere here in Melbourne to source new coins without any luck at all.
If I succeed in getting notice of new arrivals, I'm happy to cut you in, mate. First step is tracking down branches using Armaguard. Then it'll be a matter of getting friendly enough for them to agree to call.
Hopefully all in place by the time new coin starts dropping. I might also try Armaguard's depot in Port Melbourne again. I know they won't supply me, but maybe they'd be willing to say when they start shipping new issues out.
I think you will find they won't tell you anything. As a matter of security they constantly vary their routes and delivery times. Even the banks don't know when to expect them and I think they are very serious about maintaining their silence. They would have a zero tolerance approach to the release of any operational information even if it is innocuous.
Understandable given the risk to their staff.
The banks know exactly what day and time that the coin and cash deliveries are made, they just wont tell anyone.
Quote from: 'error hunter' pid='18187' dateline='1371204538'The banks know exactly what day and time that the coin and cash deliveries are made, they just wont tell anyone.
True on both counts, but what we
really want to know is what's
in the delivery, and that they don't know. Most deliveries are recycled coin only, except before xmas and easter.
Quote from: 'Fulvio' pid='18197' dateline='1371205773'Quote from: 'error hunter' pid='18187' dateline='1371204538'The banks know exactly what day and time that the coin and cash deliveries are made, they just wont tell anyone.
True on both counts, but what we really want to know is what's in the delivery, and that they don't know. Most deliveries are recycled coin only, except before xmas and easter.
My local Westpac lets me know. Mainly due to getting so much change for my business so often that I've built a good relationship with the staff over the last 7 years. But I guess your best bet is to try different branches within the same Armaguard route, if that's determinable that is...
I get the feeling Armaguard are on a sales drive.. NAB, WBC and CBA in Mt Waverley have all switched to them recently (didn't ask ANZ, I'm not a customer). Maybe the security mobs are dividing up territories to save fuel or something?
I tend to be able get security bags (sometimes roll) of some of the new coins from various banks in my area. But (big but) not normally of the coins that I really want.
For example. I have 2010 and 2012 10c security bags but no 2011. I normally have trouble getting some of the commerative coins. I think many of them keep them for themselves!
I've been thinkin the same thing here about comm's as they're gettin harder and harder to find and when I do find them they're pretty crappy :(
Armaguard has been delivering rolls in coinsafe bags here for some time. But just recently they have returned to loose coins in cloth sacks. I don't know why.
Incidentally, the bag pictured had a most unusual distribution of coins;
•321 commemoratives (64%). Usual amount is 35% to 40%.
•Included 140 1993 Landcare and 42 2001 Volunteers. That is many more than usual for a $500 bag
•Only 6 Centenary of Federation and 13 Outback. Many less than usual
At first, as I started going through them, I thought maybe I had struck another noodler's rejects. However no self respecting noodler would reject 8 aUNC (or better) commemoratives, a rabbit ears and a 2001 Volunteers rim cud. Strange?
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10055/_1_bag.JPG)
Quote from: 'JeffH' pid='79871' dateline='1443045443'Armaguard has been delivering rolls in coinsafe bags here for some time. But just recently they have returned to loose coins in cloth sacks. I don't know why.
Incidentally, the bag pictured had a most unusual distribution of coins;
•321 commemoratives (64%). Usual amount is 35% to 40%.
•Included 140 1993 Landcare and 42 2001 Volunteers. That is many more than usual for a $500 bag
•Only 6 Centenary of Federation and 13 Outback. Many less than usual
At first, as I started going through them, I thought maybe I had struck another noodler's rejects. However no self respecting noodler would reject 8 aUNC (or better) commemoratives, a rabbit ears and a 2001 Volunteers rim cud. Strange?
Someones money box deposited at the bank?
That's a plausible theory. Could also explain why most of the better condition coins are earlier years (when the RAM handling of new coins was kinder than it has been in recent years).
Quote from: 'JeffH' pid='79871' dateline='1443045443'loose coins in cloth sacks.
Loose?
That's not an Armaguard sack. Its a bank sack going TO Armaguard.
So what you have there is most likely a deceased collector's stash, cashed in by his family. Rush back and grab as many more sacks as you can, before they're picked up.