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 Replies: 20 / Views: 3,535 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2019 Posts |
I haven't tried this but if you put it on top of an ice pack and blow some hot air over the top of it with a hair dryer I bet the top will come right off, its the old cool down one half(contraction) and heat up the other half (expansion) trick.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
616 Posts |
I have had 2 mint Capsules on Pandas come open just picking them up but never a real Air-Tite capsule.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1200 Posts |
Pry the two pieces apart by beginning the separation them with an X-acto knife or other thin blade. I find they come apart pretty easily.
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Valued Member
 United States
292 Posts |
Thanks so much for all your replies. I've tried the fingernail thing with no luck. And a letter opener, but probably not thin enough. Love the tip to ask the wife!
So what the mint uses is not a real Air Tite? Must not be as one of you responded to them opening up when taken out of the box - as I have experienced.
And thanks for not blasting me for asking this question!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1659 Posts |
Not a dumb question at all. You're wise for asking first rather than waiting until after you've messed up a valuable coin trying to get one open!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
584 Posts |
****Warning***
If you are to try this, please be careful. Practice on your least valuable first. Just as a precaution.
What I find works on the tightest of air tight capsules is,
Place the airtight on its side like your going to roll it down the table.
Take a Knife and place in right on the seam of the airtight, with a little pressure roll the airtight with the edge of the knife pushing down ever so slightly...
this will open up the airtight enough for you to finish it off with your finger nail.
Just be very care full!! Because this will pop it right open. Coin rolling down the table and onto the floor. (I lost my poor meatball, it rolled out the door) lol
Also the knife can quickly separate the air tight and cut into the coin.
Just use this trick to get enough room to finish it off with your nail.
If your the DIY'er take an old knife to the grinder, put a 50 50 edge on it. this seems to work best for me.
HOpe this helps, seriously be careful! I have a SAE with a nice scar, or what I like to call cracked die...lol
And remember:
If you ask a question and get laughed at, you may be a fool for 5min
BUT
If you don't ask that same question, Your a fool forever!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
616 Posts |
Your are correct mint capsules are not Air-Tites which are a brand name and IMHO are really premium capsules. If you are opening a Silver Panda the capsule actually has a fingernail notch to open it. Other mint capsules seem to be able to be opened with a fingernail and various amounts of effort. For a true Air-Tite I also use a X-acto knife. Good luck.
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Valued Member
United States
335 Posts |
I found that a razor blade works for me (bit easier to handle than an Exacto knife).
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
The Royal Australian Mint heat seal their proof silver and gold coins in airtight capsules, so that they have to be broken to open them.
Put such a capsule in a vise, and very gradually increase the pressure until the capsule cracks.
Once a crack has been established, proceed as biochemist6 has suggested.
I crack open Macadamia nuts (Australian Bush nuts) by the same method. It is about the only practical way to open them. Yummy!
Why on Earth would I suggest even bothering to open such a protective capsule?
Sometimes, a set of Australian proof silver coins has been broken up for a particular coin, the rest being sold as individual encapsulated coins.
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Valued Member
United States
370 Posts |
I usually use an xacto knife
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36878 Posts |
Quote:
You may try to leave it in the sun or by the window so the air get heat up and expand a bit.... may make it easier for you to take them apart.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
What coin are you trying to open?
I ask because, there are a few coins that do not open very well at all. Like the 1982 proof Washington half dollar.
For these I use a hammer ... if you have tried to open
one of these you will understand.
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
I use a retractable utility knife. You can open it just far enough to enter and pry open the seam.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
863 Posts |
use a grinder with a cut wheel. start in the middle and work your way through. you may need to glue the coin back together though.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
784 Posts |
If you have young kiddos around check and see if they have an orange LEGO separator. They come in most sets. One end is designed to get flat LEGOS off of flat LEGOS which have been the bane of many eight year old and their fathers finger nails... I bet they would work great!
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Posted 06/17/2013 5:59 pm
