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 Replies: 53 / Views: 9,040 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
849 Posts |
The odd time I have opened a slabbed coin (in my case from Canada, usually ICCS soft "plastic" type enclosure), I take pictures of the coin before opening the slab when I first purchase it. So you see the slab with the label intact and the coin in there.
If I sell that coin later because I am upgrading or getting out of that type of coin, I take pictures of the coin not in the holder. If the coin is VF to say MS 63, the viewer will see that the coins match before and after. I will show both before and after pictures on-line. I will state that the coin had been removed from the slab. I am not hiding anything.
Coins of these grades are unique enough that the viewer will see the scratch by the king's ear in both pics or the toning at six o'clock position or whatever. This probably would not work with PL or high MS coins. They look too much the same and it could look like there could have been switches done.
The buyer gets the coin and the label (and the soft ICCS slab that has been opened at one end).
I understand and agree that this had voided the authenticity of the slab but it does give the buyer some assurance of the grading of the item. I have only done this with coins under $60 and always offer 7 day returns. I seem to get close to slabbed prices and have never had a return on the few times I have done this.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Hello, my name's Ken and I'm a slab cracker...  I do have my limits - my 1909-S VDB is still in it's slab. That beautiful 1853 Arrows and Rays would be in my 7070 if it were mine... Edited by KenKat
02/23/2018 7:01 pm
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Moderator
 United States
189502 Posts |
Nice graveyard.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Ken the Kracker, I like it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1195 Posts |
RubyOpal if you're planning to buy all slabbed coins they make a "slab album." It looks like it's pages that hold about 9 slabs each. That would make it so you wouldn't have to crack open the coins. Also beware that even if a TPG straight grades a coin, especially pre 1900's ones, it could still be cleaned. For some reason they seem to go easy on the older coins and say they are original even though they had a past cleaning. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
719 Posts |
I still use a hammer with an old towel over the slab, hit the corner. Those old SEGS holders are the toughest. I know there are more efficient and safer ways, but 15 years, so far so good.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
Good job KenKat!  |
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Valued Member
United States
314 Posts |
I use a mallet and a wood chisel. Place the chisel right on the seam and a quick whack on each side and it usually opens right up. I don't wrap it in a towel because I like to see that I place the chisel right at the seams and make sure the chisel doesn't go too deep - just enough to "break the seam".
Michael
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Moderator
United States
189502 Posts |
Quote:
I do have my limits - my 1909-S VDB is still in it's slab. If and when I get that one it will be cracked for the Dansco.  |
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Valued Member
United States
314 Posts |
Totally agree. Coins look MUCH nicer in my CAPS album then in a slab. Only ones I keep in slabs are either for when I am collecting a fully-slabbed album (I am doing that for Peace dollars) and if I ever had a crazy/expensive/rare coin that I wanted to ensure it's authentication. Michael |
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Valued Member
United States
109 Posts |
Quote:Also beware that even if a TPG straight grades a coin, especially pre 1900's ones, it could still be cleaned. I've noticed that, too! I cracked that 1853 quarter for my type album, and I can definitely see old cleaning marks on it. I've decided not to stress too much over old cleanings and just try to steer clear of coins that look like they were thrown in with the table silver for a good scrubbing. I did happily bust open a bunch of Morgan dollars for my date album, too - some MS 64. Not quite sure yet where I'll draw the line. I think that if I get slabbed Seated Liberty dollars, I'll probably keep them in the slabs. Edited by RubyOpal
03/09/2018 9:05 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10044 Posts |
Crack 'em!
The system is fickle anyway.
If coin 1 is slabbed; graded; valued at 100.00 today' then cracked out; resubmitted; and fails the previous grade, then coin 1, despite not having changed itself, is not assigned the same value anymore.
Now if coin 1 was cracked and resubmitted yet again, getting its previous or higher grade, then coin 1 all of a sudden, despite no changes to the coin being made, becomes 100.00-worthy again.
When the grading system becomes scientifically based (long past the time in technology it could be), then the same grade will always result - making a verifiable standard based on the merits of the coin itself. It won't change, and neither will its value (by thousands of dollars in some cases).
Hey, the newest iphone collects/analyzes 30,000(!) data points instantaneously to recognize the face of its owner and turn on... before the owner can blink their eyes. Certainly its way overdue for a scientific, repeatable system for grading coins (although coins being graded with such a system would need be assigned one point for eye appeal which would be in the eyes of the buyer and seller alone [oh no!]).
When I hear it being said cracking a coin out of a slab is a horrible thing, I cannot help but see how commercialism is succeeding in moving the focus away from the coin itself.
And just think, cracking coins out should not bother those who believe it a crime to crack a slab. The TPGs no doubt cheer every time they see someone cracking out a coin b/c they know they likely will be paid yet once again to put it in a another slab some day.
How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halveshttps://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
I'm on a mission to crack out as many MS65/MS66 Wheat cents as possible in order to full my CAPS album.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
And just think, cracking coins out should not bother those who believe it a crime to crack a slab. It doesn't really make a difference to anyone else. Some people just want to make sure people are aware of the risk they're taking and potential financial loss by doing so since the grading itself has value and liquidity. As long as people know that if they want to crack things out by all means whatever makes them happy with their collection. |
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Moderator
United States
189502 Posts |
I am not opposed to cracking coins out of plastic cases.  I do have a few exceptions, mainly the graded Ike set I am building. |
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Replies: 53 / Views: 9,040 |
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Posted 02/23/2018 3:05 pm
