so i have started the dansco 8176. woohoo anyhow, i have the 72 and 73 brown Ike and wondering the best way to crack the protective lens. I realize some folks would say not to that but else how would one plcae them in the book? thanks folks walter
It's been a while since I freed a brown Ike, but as I recall, you can open the plastic without cracking it. Carefully take a thin piece of metal or hard plastic and start in one of the corners and work your way around.
thank you kind sir, i attempted that to no avail. probably not thin enough. may try a knive but known for my lack of, well, i am clumsy
Lol, try a box cutter. You would rally have to mess up to get close to the coin. If all else fails, you can use the same process as cracking a slab. There are a couple different ways to do that. Bolt cutters work well. You could also turn it on it's side, lay a towel over hit and stop: Hammer Time!
I'd advise against the box cutter - if it slips off the plastic you could end up with stitches. I cracked one of mine out by using a "precision" screwdriver (one of the little ones used for computer parts, jewelry or eyeglasses) with a little pressure on one of the seams. Once you get a little pressure in there, you should be able to pry the rest open. The screwdriver is a little safer than the box cutter IMHO. If you have a vise on a workbench or whatever, that will help immensely. You could also technically use the vise to crack the top of the slab and then "peel" from there.
I've twisted the lens in my hands with success. Some of these just fall apart. Others might as well have been sonicaly sealed. I've used a flat x-acto knife blade with success. (Although I have stabbed myself on occasion) (Ouch!) I've used the precision screwdriver with success. (Although I have stabbed myself on occasion!) (Double Ouch!) But my "Can't Fail" method is the hammer on the side of the lens while it rests on concrete! Light taps do the trick everytime! The real trick though, is in getting the coin out of the black plastic insert! Some of them drop out while others seem to want me to use the hammer on them! Usually, pushing the coin out while wearing cotton gloves works but you've gotta oush from the reverse. That black plastic insert has a beveled hole so that the coins could easily drop in from the obverse side. Trying to force them through that hole in the wrong direction will be disastrous! If you cannot push the coin out from the back, gently bend that insert until the coin drops out (onto a soft surface!).
to crack a slab for the ike book or not? already did the brown boxes I had and they look great in the book. have a pcgs pr69dcam 71-s silver not sure if i would run across a better one and it would look great. once it is cracked it is cracked, mom was right... so..pretty sure what to do but i am soliciting opinions. (rather not waste another thread when folks i trust have already been here) as usual, thanks Walter
I wouldn't crack a PR-69 71. That is a nice grade for the year and you could risk damaging it. I am usually an advocate for cracking out, but in this case, I would just get a raw one for the album and leave the slab alone.
A PCGS PR-69 is in the $40 range, while you can get a nice raw one in the $15 range. The problem is, if you get just one tiny blemish on the 69 while inserting it into the album, it is then a $15 coin.
i have another question instead of starting a new thread how might one open the air-tite type lense the bicentenial silver proof came if in from the mint?
Huh? You don't need to be no stinkin member at PCGS! Just open a registry set for the series you want pops and prices on. Use the "What if" function while you are editing your set and everything shows up for ya!
The "air tight" used for the NiCentennial Silver Proofs is literally "glued" together. The only way I've ever removed them is by carefully using a hammer to crack the seals and then hope that the danged thing doesn't snap in half as I pry it open.
I was able to get mine open by using light pressure with pliers on the rim. The holder popped right open.
