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 Replies: 9 / Views: 4,760 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
629 Posts |
I have a roll of 1956 Canadian cents in BU that have become stuck inside the plastic tube. Since they are BU I didn't want to ruin them in any way to degrade their value.
I did a google search on this issue and found a solution that I wanted to share.
Score the outside the tube from top to bottom with a razor blade cutting in but not all the way to the coins. I did 5 lines along the tube. Then put the roll in a plastic snack bag that is resealable. Put the roll in the freezer overnight. Next day take out plastic bag and drop it on a concrete floor.
The tube split along the cut lines and the coins were removed with no issues.
Transferred the coins to a new roll and I'm a happy camper.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
 Are you kidding ! I would never throw the roll of BU coins down on a concrete floor . Too much chance of scratching and banging the coins that fall out of the tube all over the concrete .  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
There's a better way with no damage at all . Remove the cap ,place flat dish on table. Hold the tube of pennies at a 45 degree angle and gently tap the tube onto dish and with your index finger . Some times this could be time consuming if they are really in there tight . Other times they come right out 4 or 5 at a time with just a few taps . No damage what's so ever .  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
A combination of the two methods would probably be the best.
Weaken the tube by scoring first, as well as filing the base circle at 45 degrees.
Tap the tube at T-BOP has suggested. If the tube disintegrates during this process, that is no loss.
Personally I am not keen on the idea of storing absolutely pristine MS-65+ coins in a tube in the first place, but they may be quite OK for MS-60 / MS-64 coins, especially for the bullion stashers.
I don't like the idea of storing pristine coins face to face, with direct metal to metal contact.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Slamming coins on the floor? Why not just throw them out a window of a 20 story building? Put them in a freezer? OR
1. Heat the tube with a Butane torch.
2. Melt the tube completely with a Arc welder.
3. Cut off the ends with a Dremel tool, then push coins out.
4. Don't put coins in a tube where they rub together.
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Valued Member
United States
485 Posts |
Thanks for sharing! Obviously this has never happened to the ones whom have responded to your post or they would surely be more sympathetic and understanding of your dilemma . I'm guessing the pennies were put in the plastic tube in 1956 and improperly stored in heat and cold where the tube shrunk entombing them for 60+ years waiting for you to rescue them. Its not like you put them in a tube last week and can't get them out! And you could tap til your finger falls off, the pennies are not coming out of that tube w/o drastic measures. I have a tube of BU 1964 Washington quarters that won't budge so I'm happy to learn of the freezing trick. |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12817 Posts |
I would think putting the tube in a freezer would produce the opposite of the intended effect. I was going to suggest heating the tube gently with a hair dryer and then using the tap method. Haven't tried it myself.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
581 Posts |
I have found through experience the following method to be effective.
First, turn the tube upside down, firmly grasp middle of tube with left hand until knuckles are white, and make a fist with my right hand.
Next, with the tube held vertically upright slam the flat part of your fist, in a downward motion, as hard as possible squarely on the bottom of the tube repeatedly until the coins are no longer stuck. I have found a direct correlation between the frequency and volume of cursing and the length of time required to loosen the stuck coins.
NOTE: Good idea to do on thick carpet or other forgiving surface, and not in the garage with a concrete floor. I learned this lesson the hard way.
WARNING: This method will cause small dogs to hide behind the sofa and (if married) your partner to go shopping/out for coffee with friends.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
629 Posts |
Thanks for all of the interesting replies on removing the coins from the tube. I was at a loss on how to get them out - tapping them on the table would only be frustrating unless I hummed a tune at the same time.
The frozen roll of cents were placed inside of a resealable snack bag, that way they weren't strewn over the floor. I didn't throw the tube on the concrete and I dropped it from a height of 3'. The tube broke along the scored lines and the coins are now in another tube. The BU roll is worth perhaps $25.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Quote:
firmly grasp middle of tube with left hand until knuckles are white, and make a fist with my right hand.
Next, with the tube held vertically upright slam the flat part of your fist, in a downward motion, as hard as possible squarely on the bottom of the tube repeatedly until the coins are no longer stuck. I have found I don't think my right hand fist would fair well with that kind of abuse .  |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 4,760 |
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Posted 12/20/2019 2:19 pm
