Advice on coin removal from direct fit airtite

I just spent 1/2 hour trying to remove a coin I purchased from a direct fit airtite to put into an album. I was able to open the airtite no problem but the coin is stuck on one side of the holder. I really do not want to use too much force and damage the coin. Any advice on how to remove the coin without damaging it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, TC

 

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Seemed to me someone once said put it in the freezer. I can't seem to find the thread. It seems to me there were a couple of suggestions.

 

the freezer thread was about coin tubes, but would likely work for airtites. http://www.cointalk.com/t160614/

 

I've had decent luck putting something really soft on the table underneath, then putting my thumb on the outside of the Airtite, fingers around the outside of the edges, and trying to pop the coin out. Definitely use both hands.

Would putting the coin in the freezer expose it to a lot of moisture? I'd put it inside something airtite first....oh.

 

Thanks Noost. That explains why I could not find it with a search on airtite.

 

Speaking of this issue, are the airtite with foam better choice than direct fits? I currently use mainly direct fits and use foams for 14mm coins. One drawback about foams is that i am worried that over time it may degrade.

 

I wouldn't recommend putting it in the freezer because of the moisture. You might try putting a towel on the table and turning the disc face down on it. Then, using a small hammer, tap the disc lightly all along the edge to try to loosen the coin. If that doesn't work, you can tap it a little harder to try to crack the edge.

Chris

 

Heat it coin side down with a hair drier, it will come out after the airtite gets hot.

 

That worked perfectly. Thanks! TC

 

Glad I could remove your frustration! LOL

 

Okay, we know that Airtites aren't really air tight. What is the best way to install a coin? Isn't moisture in the air also going
to be captured no matter how little of a percent it is? How about putting an Airtite in a foodsaver bag and suck the air and moisture out then snap the Airtite shut. Do you thihk the closed Airtite would let air back in?
zeke

 

Wrap that sucker up in cling wrap so moisture can't get to it. Pop it in the freezer turned high, over night. When you take it out, if the coin doesn't fall right out easily. You probably need to read the PM I am gonna send, because people aren't gonna like it. LOL

I think it will disengage after it's frozen though

 

When I bought that $1 FV of silver for $20, all coins were in Direct fit airtites. I used my sharpest knife to carefully cut the coins out of the airtites. Some popped right open. I was going to throw them away, anyhow. They were scratched up and old.

 

Tapping on the sides with an item all the way around worked for me too. Glad you got it out.

 

Great Thread. All this advice is good to know.

 

i hope the hair dryer trick works. i have a couple aluminum coins that the first one i pressed down and it was tilted and couldn't get my finger nail underneath to pop back out. i pressed it in and sure even a hammer couldn't pop it out. just heat or breaking the airtite. costing a fortune to get all the different sizes for foreign coins and medals and sizes published for items are often a little smaller than actual sizes.

 

Thank you, your suggestion is what worked for me. And I did not have to risk cutting my hand.

In a toolkit for watches I found a small hammer. One side of the head was metal and one coated with poly/plastic.

With the coin side (seam) down, I struck the center of the case 3 times with the coated side of the hammer to create a gap on the air-tite seam. Then I easily pried open the air-tite.

Suggestions to use a knife are crazy.

 

The "foam" of ring-type Airtites is a product called "Volara," which is archival-quality.

Supposedly "archival quality"...if you believe the company that sells it. But still, your point about TIME is important.

I wonder how Volara will hold up over time in dessicated environments (storage environments kept dry on purpose for coins) and if this material will break down over time in 10, 25, 50 or 100 years? A lot of us are using ring-type Airtites for long-term storage.

Like with many products sold by businesses that market to coin collectors, I'm not so sure that this product is 3rd-party, peer-reviewed (i.e. Consumer Reports). Currently, we just have to trust the company.

I'd like to know what a chemist thinks of the archival qualities and stability of Volara.

 

I would think UV would be the biggest threat to the Volara.