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 Replies: 32 / Views: 6,278 |
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Valued Member
United States
173 Posts |
For future reference, Id like to hear how you guys open up slabs to extract raw coins. I dont have a specific slab I'm looking to crack right now, but I know many of you open up your coins to put in albums and such, and I assume once I finally make that leap to purchasing a 1909S VDB for my Lincoln set i'll want it proudly displayed in the album  How do you guys do it without damaging the coin?  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2843 Posts |
Quote:
How do you guys do it without damaging the coin? Carefully  To be more specific, I have done this only a few times, but I broke the top part where the label is, and then slowly cracked off the edges all around. As soon as I saw that I could switch to using my hands and not a pliers, I did that. So, basically, carefully. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
Ditto BigSilver. I thought that pliers would be the tool.
Starting at the top where the label is wise.
I have opened a few and I was in a panic doing so.
"CAREFULLY" is the operative word.
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Valued Member
United States
206 Posts |
Concrete floor, hammer. Put the holder on edge and place it on the floor with one edge down then tap the top edge of the case with the hammer and it will crack. Then rotate and repeat on all four sides.
Have to be careful and the idea is to crack the case all the way around, not destroy it. Works on every slab I have encountered.
Edit, if you want to be doubly safe with a high value coin, wrap it in a cloth just in case so the coin can't fall out.
Edited by Andy Herkimer
05/30/2019 2:31 pm
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Moderator
 United States
34397 Posts |
@1962, other than to reiterate "with care", I would add that when I crack slabs, I save the labels with the coin. Not exactly proof of provenance, but it seems prudent.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
I only cracked a couple of coins out of their slabs to put into albums . You have been given all good advice on how to go about it . Although Andy Herkimer's advice is great I would skip wrapping the slab in a cloth as it makes it harder to hit on edge with a hammer . Instead place the slab on edge on the concrete using cloth first then hit away on top edge . the cloth is in case the coin should fall out of the slab during it's removal .  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Pliers have always worked well for me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4691 Posts |
I put a blanket on top of a hard surface. Put the slab on edge, then using a hammer hit the corner of the slab. That's how I do it. If it's an ANACS yellow holder, you can sometimes just peel them open with your hands.
Edited by jimbucks
05/30/2019 7:54 pm
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
Uhhhhh Concrete? hammer? and coins?.....in the same sentence? NO! Take a picture of the unopened slab, Obv and Rev. Crack it open. "Slowly" tighten down the vise, turn the slab...repeat Take out the label with barcode number. Print out a 3x5 picture of the slab. Attach the label and barcode to the picture. Put the picture in a clear sleeve in the back of your album.   |
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Moderator
United States
187876 Posts |
Well done.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
PCGS and NGC slabs I use a bolt cutter at 3:00 and 9:00 relative to the coin which creates a horizontal crack across the slab; then I separate. ANACS slabs I take a flat blade screwdriver, put it in the slot between the slab and twist. They open right up for me. I left my 1909-S VDB in it's slab however. Anything much above $500 or so stays. Here's some of my past handiwork:  |
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
KenKat- I think I'll try that! ! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
The hard surface and hammer method works best for me. Put it on a hard desk and gently tap the tops and sides of the slab with the hammer. Less force is better. Try it one time and assess. If the holder doesn't split apart, try tapping it a second time, third time, etc until you can pry both sides free with your finger tips. This method will not only not damage the coin but keeps the holder intact so you can reencapsule the coin back into the holder should your storage method change.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
A vise is fine, but
I think the slab should be wrapped to prevent the coin becoming airborne, or falling onto the floor.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2461 Posts |
I've done it only once, and I honestly don't remember how I did it. probably pliers. I'm glad to have read this, though. some good takeaways here, thanks to all for the info!
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Valued Member
Spain
125 Posts |
 With this tool. I don't know how it is called in English, but not as aggresive as a hammer. Plastic is so hard, it breaks perfectly with only one or two bites |
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Replies: 32 / Views: 6,278 |
Posted 05/30/2019 2:04 pm
