what coins and why? what are some coins you would never want to unslab? or even take out of the mint holders. pros and cons? how about a 2009 UHR
I can't think of any reason I would ever want to take a coin out of the holder, unless I was selling and I thought I could upgrade it. I could buy an MS 64 coin, in an MS 62 holder, and it would stay in that holder until I was ready to sell. People like plastic... But.. I guess come to think of it I would probably get it upgraded if it was a registry coin.
Well I only have a few slabbed coins but I don't think I would ever break a coin out. That said, I do have an ASE that's a 2007 early release MS69 and some moisture has been working it's way inward and has placed a small strange looking spot on the coin. The only reason that I don't bust the coin out is b/c there's no guarantee that I could fix the problem. I'm hoping it takes on a nice toning of sorts but at this point I don't see how. I would definitely break open a slab if I thought I had to except a gold coin. I don't think I would ever break out a gold coin unless I was involved in a contest to do so.
I took out a Indian rupee from the reign of William iv from out of it's slab. firstly because it was not graded it was only confirmed as genuine and secondly I couldn't take a proper picture since the plastic was all scratched up.
Ask Illini about this...or search the forums posts he did alot for his type set but I'll let him tell you about it.
This one was in an NGC holder (ms 64) The holder was scratched up and so I decided to take it out and put it in an airtite a few years ago. I used a dremmel and got distracted. Note the area around the neck. Idiot!
I have busted out several coins from the lower tier TPG's (never correct grade anyway) to fill or update my collection. Have a love/hate relationship with slabs anyway. Only have 2 slabbed coins at present--a 2001 silver comm. buffalo and a 1908 no motto St. Gaudens. Usually steer clear of slabs, but won't hesitate to buy one if I think its a deal and I need it for my collection.
I leave all of my proof ASEs in the plastic mint capsules. I'm also keeping my set of proof silver statehood quarters in their mint holders. I can still display everything without removing anything from the mint packaging. I don't own any slabs.
I crack all coins in slabs I acquire for my collection. Grading gods don't determine the "niceness" of my coins, I do!
Next time, try squeezing the slab (along one of its major dimensions) in a vise until it pops. Then turn it 90-degrees & repeat. The slab will open like a clam shell. This technique works on NGC & PCGS slabs. The ICG slabs are very tough. The newer ANACS slabs crack more easily. Before the vise squeeze, I put the slab in a sandwich baggie just to keep any parts from falling. Like Leadfoot, I have cracked some coins for use in an album or raw display. I try to avoid the mistake of cracking a coin which is slabbed higher than it might grade otherwise. Very best regards, collect89
have you ever freed a coin from its slab? No, and I never would. For one thing I have never, and never would re-submit a coin for grading. I only buy coins that I am happy with for the grade so there would be no need to ever re-submit it. I would also never risk removing a coin from its slab because of the potential for damage, regardless of how small that risk is. I would never remove a coin from a slab to place it in an album because albums are one of the absolute worst storage methods there is for coins. I would never remove a coin from it's slab just so I can hold it in my hand. Holding a coin in your hand is a no-no in coin collecting. And I can enjoy the coin just fine while it is safely protected in that slab. And lastly, I would never remove a coin from a slab because if I ever decided to sell it, it is 10 times easier to sell a slabbed coin than it is to sell a raw coin. Of course it is also pertinent to note that any raw coin I ever owned would not ever be submitted for grading either as there was no need. I was perfectly confident in my grade and the authenticity of every coin I owned. And I could protect it just as well in an Air-Tite as I could in any slab.
I've purchased many coins in slabs and have none now at all. All coins are taken out of slabs and placed in Albums. I do save those little stickers about them from the slab and place them on a piece of that post-it type of paper and stick it inside the album cover though. I've taken so many out of slabs that I've got no idea of how many. Most expensive one was a MS Graded 1909S VDB Lincoln Cent I guess. All are placed in a vise, cut off edges with saber saw and medium toothed blade.
I would never crack a coin out of a major TPG slab. Even if I disagreed with the grade and wanted to resubmit, I would resub in the holder. I am afraid of damaging the coin, but more importantly the slab offers a considerable amount of protection. Its also much easier to resell in the slab. I have cracked third world holders - NNC and Numistrust being two of the most common. Most of these were foreign coins that I a.) saw in hand before buying b.) bought for a price corresponding to the grade I thought they were, not the grade on the slab and c.) purchased with the intention of putting in 2x2s to match the rest of the particular set they were for.
Can't say I ever have but I sure feel like getting my toned PCGS peace dollar out and sending it back to Mr. Hall with a .223 bullet whole through it. :headbang:
I consider myself a coin "liberator" and have cracked out many to complete my sets. I would only put them back into a slab to sell them. I love holding a raw coin in hand, you actually get to see a lot more of the coin, not to mention the edge. My proudest moment was cracking out a 1795 flowing hair dollar from an NGC slab, loved holding that coin in my bare hands, feeling the history flowing through it. I also remember a lecture from a past ANA president that struck home, he basically said the TPG's don't spend enough time to inspect the coin for grade and attribution, and thinks collectors/dealers have gone a little overboard with emphasis on the "grade".