How Do you open this??

I do NOT think people forget about the new guy. In fact, I think that is why the question did not get answered immediately. I for one just wanted to know why you were cracking the slab. Its like when someone asks how to clean a coin. If you want to clean your own coin thats your business. But people want to advise you not to do it first, in case you are brand new and getting ready to take a wire brush to a great rarity you just inherited.

 

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Just glad~

I'm Just glad~
The OP didn't find my old posts on using thermite.

But it WOULD get it out.:bigeyes:

 

I have the Dansco books, and I just like to look at the coin. You realy can't see it in a slab. Now I don't throw the slabs away. I keep all of them. If it wern't for some of the guys on this board, I would have probaly got taken buying high dollar raw coins. Now I know better, I would never buy a 09svdb or a 55 DD without it slabbed. But you can bet your last dollar I will open that sucker to look at MY coin and play with it. When it goes in the book, it is then slabbed to me?? I don't care what some other guy thinks the coin is, MS 65, MS 67, AU 55, I just want to know it is the real deal, and not a fake.

 

The TPG'ers slabs are there to not be taken out by design for security reasons. But it can be done as in other links attached as you can see.
There are a few other people that remove them here on the web site like you are talking about doing but there are some that have stopped like Illini and for good reason.
As long as you know your probably loosing value by doing this go ahead they are your coins
As for the debate, it's water under the bridge if you ask me so ask your "stupid question" if you like
We all started new and we are all still learning.

 

A simple answer. Imagine that. Maybe we need a new section entitled "simple answers", or "just the facts". This would help the newcomer tremendously IMO. Help instead of chasing them away. Opinions are great and usually welcomed by the newcomer I would think. Just be nice if sometimes one would cut through all the "you know...when I was your age" theme, or at least preface an opinion as such along with the actual answer to a question when possible. Some do try to sincerely help, and some are more interested in showing off IMO.

 

Beat a dead horse lately Tom...

Most of the questions are asking for opinion...hence his question

"How Do you open this??"

There is not fact. No 1 way to look it up in Websters. No right or wrong.
It's our opinions he is soliciting and that's what he got.
The first few were stuff like:

"I would not"

well guess what in my opinion that's what I would do...I would not open it. Would it be better to say: "You do not" as it is not made to be opened and doing so it actually breaking it...

There are tons of people on this web site and as far as I can see there are lots of new names all the time.
It's free "advice" from us and I think we do a really good job at giving it espically for the price. Again, If someone doesn't like the reply the get in soon enough (14 min) then go to PCGS I'm sure they are much more friendly there.

 

Beating a dead horse huh? I wonder if repeating over and over "not to clean coins" for the eight millionth time is considered beating a dead horse.

A possible answer to the man's question might have gone like "Well...this is how...or...you can't"..or some other more directly pertinent answer to the actual question.

"Uhhh...that's what the slab is for". Very helpful indeed.

"Free" advice. Thank you for not charging me kind sir. You're a saint. Same thing with the cleaning issue (which still bugs me to this day). I "wouldn't". Well great...you wouldn't. So how do they do it regardless?
THAT attitude prompts the combative attitudes.

But let's not beat this dead horse any more..right?

 

Done.

 

Just one observation, and this isn't meant in a sarcastic way: what's the point in keeping the slabs once you've cracked them? The proof of grading when you resell a slabbed coin is that it hasn't been tampered with. Once it's out of the slab there's no way to claim the coin is the same one that was graded. I'm only playing devil's advocate here, I much prefer raw coins. But slabs IMO are simply a method of showing verified expert grading. "Added protection" is just a way to market the service.

Raw...when did that term come into use? Like they're hamburger patties.

 

So, now I'm going to ask a dumb question -
Why buy it slabbed then, if you aren't going to trust the TPG enough to know that it is real...? Because if you don't trust them, then by all means just buy raw coins...in most cases you will save money because raw sells for less than slabbed coins most of the time.

Now, please...I never suggest buying raw if you don't know how to grade, and you don't know how to tell a real from fake. In most cases you will be able to tell if the coin is real, and what the grade is through the slab.

If you don't like slabs, then why not sell them, and buy raw coins with the money you make off of the slabs??

Speedy

 

I feel just the opposite. I'm not collecting coins nor anything else for anyone else, just me. People collect coins, stamps, cars, hub caps, bugy whips, etc for fun, enjoyment, a passtime, etc. If you collect anything for someone else, nice thoughts but I collect for me, only me, and completely for me. Who gets this stuff in the future can do with it as they want, I'll never know, maybe.

 

Not just digressed but dragged out and became insulting, irritating and not a good thing for any new members to even see.
Yes there are many posts about how to open a slab. Same with cleaning a coin too. Or the usage of Acetone. So what. Many new members deserve the same decent treatment that members a long time ago found here. Not all new members know about a search thing, how to use it, what to ask for either. So just how much of a problem would it be to repeat something a few times?
As to cracking a coin out of a slab, I've been doing that for as long as their have been slabs. The so called bold cutters, pliers or other similar types of impliments do sometimes create flying plastic. One piece in an eye makes for the end of this hobby sometimes too. A dremmel type tool is good but if not a variable speed one, the cutting wheel gets a little hot and the plastic remelts together again.
I've found a saber saw, medium toothed blade, slow speed on a variable speed tool cuts the edges off and no problems.
I collect coins, not plastic.

 

Here is the answer to your question...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC-m7kH7qzw

We have to keep in mind that benefiting from experienced collectors is not an entitlement; it's is an act of generosity from fellow collectors. Since you are admitadly inexperienced when it comes to coin slabs, and thought they could easily be opened, fellow collectors were only trying to help you out by making you aware of the ramifications of cracking a coin out of a slab.

So not only did you get your answer, but you learned something new about coin collecting that you didn't know before...that's the beauty of CT and having access to such a diverse membership!

-LTB

 

I concur. And humility goes a long way.