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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,514 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1475 Posts |
Deep inside my closet, I had a box which contained proof sets from 1965 to 1999. Most of these were purchased as a part of collections over the years, and were not loved as much as other coins. Recently, I started 32 coin Ike dollar set, and these proof cases were cracked opened for Ike proofs. This is first time I ever cracked open anything other than eggs. I realized that inside faded and scratched cases, there are truly beautiful coins sitting inside. I ended up cracking 10 cases of proof sets. It's like freeing them from a jail. The first case took me 15 minutes to crack open and remove all coins safely. The tenth one took me 2 minutes. Now, I want to open up some of scratched or damaged Prestige sets. Question: Does anyone open this before? And what is the best way to crack open a Prestige set?    *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***Edited by Coconutjoe
06/28/2017 04:11 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
No idea on the prestige sets...dremel/rotary tool perhaps?
Edited by oih82w8
06/28/2017 09:47 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3210 Posts |
Prestige sets are bulky. I'd take a hammer to the corner of the plastic and hit it lightly with a hammer to crack it, then remove it and take the coins out carefully. Now for PCGS/NGC slabs I use a vice a hammer the sides til it cracks then I remove the coin. NGC slabs are a bit easier to crack open easily for this method, while PCGS coins take a bit more patience.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3058 Posts |
Personally, the proof sets were fine, but the prestige sets...I wouldn't crack them out.
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Valued Member
United States
124 Posts |
Crack them all out, its just shinny change like my local coin shop dealer said. My local coin dealer didn't even want them for face value unless I save him time and crack them open myself. I spend them for fun instead, some people think their fake toy money cause their shinny. I saved the dollar coins spend the rest.
Edited by alvaro77
06/28/2017 1:48 pm
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Moderator
 United States
188660 Posts |
Quote:
Prestige sets are bulky. I'd take a hammer to the corner of the plastic and hit it lightly with a hammer to crack it... Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!  Slow your roll there!  The Prestige sets are not sealed at all. The coins are housed in the same type of lens used for regular proof sets, but they are not sealed. The two halves will separate with a finger nail. The lens is housed inside a bulkier frame, which will come apart from the reverse side using the same finger nail. I have three Prestige sets from the mint. They are intact, but I was curious and investigated how they were put together. I intended to stop if I met the slightest bit of resistance, but that never happened. The set came apart and went back together with ease. |
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Moderator
United States
188660 Posts |
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Personally, the proof sets were fine, but the prestige sets...I wouldn't crack them out. I have to agree. My three sets were bought by my mother, so they will remain intact. The other sets, however, crack away.  I cracked all of my standard proof sets to fill my Dansco albums. Yes, there were some Ike holes filled, too.  |
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Valued Member
United States
124 Posts |
What do you do with the not need it, don't want proof coins jbuck. I don't like the dimes. When they get hazed I just spend them on the vending machines so cashier's don't look at me funny and say "is this a real coin".
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Moderator
United States
188660 Posts |
That does not apply to me. I have a Dansco for every denomination. If it did apply, the leftovers can be traded or sold. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1475 Posts |
I had a chance to purchase big lot of prestige sets, about 20 sets with many duplicates. Few of the leather cases were wet at one time and were damaged. Some smelled kinda funny too. I don't think anyone wants to buy these sets in conditions as is. So, I am opening the ones with damaged cases. I also want to find out how much of haze in the coins are due to plastic since eye appeal on couple of the silver pieces were not that good. And finally, I like looking at proof coins in it's pristine condition. I would never spend it like a spare change. I usually put them in 2x2's and hold them in 3-ring binders. As for opening up the plastic, it was exactly as jbuck mentioned. I used a small slot-head screw driver and the plastic bezel popped open without any force. As simple as that. I will be placing silver coins in air-tights, and put rest in 2x2s. Thank you all for your comments.   Edited by Coconutjoe
06/28/2017 7:32 pm
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Valued Member
United States
124 Posts |
Good,good crack them open yeah. The non silver ones are just shinny change to me said rachel.
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Moderator
United States
188660 Posts |
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So, I am opening the ones with damaged cases... If that is the case, then I approve. Like you need my approval!  Quote:
As for opening up the plastic, it was exactly as jbuck mentioned. I used a small slot-head screw driver and the plastic bezel popped open without any force. As simple as that. I am glad it worked out.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1795 Posts |
JBuck has it right the Prestige sets are not sealed.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,514 |
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Posted 06/28/2017 10:24 am
