I do side work with a property management company. We look after people's vacation homes. Theft is a concern for the clientele, so I've picked up a few good tips.
Echoing what a lot of others have said: both! Both a safe and insurance serve to protect you from different types of catastrophes. Safes are deterrents and protection, while insurance is a safety net. You should look for a safe which has a strong fire resistance rating. Don't be fooled by "fireproof" – that is not a term whose use is regulated. Fire resistance, however, is standardized and measured. We generally recommended that clients get safes with keys, rather than number pads. Learn about the gauges of steel and how much protection each one offers.
For a safe, always go one step larger than you think you will need. They're a pain in the butt to resell, so you don't want to be caught having to spend more money down the line. You also don't want to find yourself having to decide what's a "safe worthy" card and what will be stored elsewhere. Thankfully, with how small cards are, you should be able to get an excellent safe with plenty of room for a good pricepoint.
For insurance, you'll have to decide between adding this to your homeowner's/renter's insurance, or getting specialized collectible insurance. No matter which one you choose, documentation is super important. High res photos of everything. If you have your cards slabbed, record grade and cert # to prove authenticity and value. Store a copy of these records locally, one on an external drive outside your house (safe deposit box), and one in a trusted, secure cloud.
You should also practice some degree of operational security. Do not discuss the value of your collection. Do not tell or show people where your safe is. If you purchase a combination safe, do not tell anyone the combination, or use that combination in any other fashion. Purchase some timer switches and set a few lights and a radio to random intervals. Get your screw plates replaced with strike plates. Make sure your windows all have locks and that they are good ones.
Most robberies are crimes of opportunity – as harsh as it sounds, your main goal is to make your house less attractive a target than your neighbors'.
Firearms are always a protection option, but most burglaries occur when the homeowner is not present.
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