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 Replies: 22 / Views: 4,191 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
Over the couple of months that I've been here. I've seen many people talk about breaking coins out of slabs. I always looked at them horrified wondering why someone would ever want to break a coin out of a airtight slab, especially with the top 2 grading services. A few weeks ago I received a 1853 Arrows & Rays Quarter that I had won on ebay. It was designated PCGS XF Details - Graffiti. I had a faint thought at the time to break it out but dismissed it because I knew the value would be reduced if taken out of the slab. Over the days leading up to today, as I closely examined the coin, I realized that the "Graffiti" was so faint that it was barely noticeable under any light with a good look for 10-20 minuted with a magnifier. So today, I finally decided to break it out of it's slab and I wasn't disappointed. Here are some pictures:    For those of you wondering what I did, I have some tips. Firstly I used a hammer to try to break it. Now if you've ever handled a PCGS slab, you know how tough it is. The hammer only broke off the top "label" part as you see in the picture. I tried breaking the central part where the coin is but the plastic there is considerably harder and is laced with a shock absorbing gel underneath so the hammer failed. So I went to the garage and got out a Fiskars axe that I bought when I needed to cut down a rotting tree in the backyard. It was still really sharp, so carefully I placed it and cut the slab open in 2 hits. Next week I'm expecting a AU53 Details 1875-S 20 cent which I'll probably break out. Which leaves me with my only other NGC slab which I wouldn't dare breakout because it houses a very old and valuable gold coin. Look forward to hearing your responses. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2563 Posts |
Where's the graffiti even at because I can't see it!
But great coin none the less!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
 cant see the grafitti, but a nice coin. I have always liked Seated quarters with rays. What gold coin is in your NGC slab if you don't mind me asking |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5417 Posts |
The graffiti is a small "w" in the right field on the obverse. Truth be told, it's just as hard to see it in hand as it is in the pictures; you see why I had to break it out. The gold coin is an 1838 Italy (Sardinia) gold 20 lire. Very valuable, I won it in an auction for $200 less than market trends and it's currently my favorite coin.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2805 Posts |
Tear down this wall  The only authenticated coins I own are a couple of strangely ICCS-certified common dates, bought for under a dollar. But I'm sure it's a liberating feel to bust open a hard slab |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
I thought that little mark could be it. Thats rough though to get hit for a details grade for that even if technically correct.
Were you hitting the face of the slab when you crack it out with the hammer?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
Ya, hitting it at an angle helped but if you're thinking of doing it, a sharp axe works wonders. Then again I got the coin for $100, so if it wasn't designated as details, I wouldn't have gotten it for such a bargain. As far as I am concerned this isn't really a problem coin and I think it's safe to call it an XF-45.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
I was going to say next time hold the coin on its edge and hit the edge with the hammer if it was giving you problems. Youll feel the side give out and move on to the next solid spot. They open like a charm just be careful not to keep bashing a spot thats given out or youll dislodge the coin inside.
Either way I like the coin, if you dont point it out most people probably wouldnt even pick up on that for a while
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Pillar of the Community
United States
526 Posts |
Quote:
I was going to say next time hold the coin on its edge and hit the edge with the hammer if it was giving you problems. Youll feel the side give out and move on to the next solid spot. They open like a charm just be careful not to keep bashing a spot thats given out or youll dislodge the coin inside. Please wrap the coin in a towel before you strike the edge with a hammer. I have had pieces fly off and hit my face before. The towel stops all that, two whacks and the case is opened and coin is in hand.... Edited by Freedom
10/04/2013 09:51 am
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
I really like the arrows design. In fact I would like to see the design resurface from the mint on a new bullion design.
I am glad you do not feel the coin is a problem coin and the mark does not bother you. I myself learned some time ago that if a coin has an issue it is usually the first thing I see when looking at my coin. It has caused me to become very picky. Probably why the coin was a bargain?
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
The combination of toning and pictures that don't show up faint graffiti, make the said graffiti impossible to find. I don't doubt that PCGS found the graffiti, if they said that they found it. TPG'ers normally use a 10x loupe to examine a coin in hand. We are normally not able to examine this closely unless the pictures are of exceptional quality. Nevertheless, the pictures presented here do carry enough information to gain some idea of the amount of wear. I happen to agree with the PCGS grading. I take what you have said about the faint graffiti, the PCGS backs this up. If you were going to re sell it, perhaps it would have better to have kept it in the slab, for the most honest and widely recognized opinion. If you are going to keep it, I would have done the same thing. I am not keen on slabs. Edited by sel_69l
10/09/2013 01:02 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
Back in the day, I popped open a couple of common NGC slabs for the inserts (gaskets) to hold a few coins while I was taking images. I don't trust my aim with a hammer, so I used a vise with a towel over it just in case there was flying debris. Nice looking quarter!  Edited by oih82w8
10/08/2013 10:51 pm
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
The TPG's do not use a 10x loupe. 5x is more than enough and most of the grade is determined without any magnification being used 1st. Especially on a coin as large as a 25c. Jim |
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
Also the graffiti is noticeable in the less than optimal photo. Some how I doubt pcgs had much trouble finding it. Do not get me wrong it has very nice details and will make a fantastic album coin.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
Yes you are right. The graffiti is easier to notice in hand than on the coin but not by much. Then again PCGS experts would be more keen eyed than the average coin collector. However the "w" is still very faint and doesn't detract from the eye appeal nearly as much as a large scratch or a wavy flan. As far as honesty is concerned, I don't ever sell coin so that's not an issue. Although if I ever did, I would make sure to take clear pictures and provide correct info because I know how bad it feels to get scammed. I've had my fair share of scams on ebay. |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
As far as I'm concerned, you are to be commended for releasing this coin to breathe free air again.  The only slab I would not crack for my own collection is one from a prominent provenance like Eliasberg or Jack Lee. I have a wild fantasy of one day video-ing myself taking a Dremel to a slab containing an MS65 Early Dollar, so I can stuff it into a 7070.  |
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Replies: 22 / Views: 4,191 |
Posted 09/29/2013 7:46 pm
