Whether to remove my Sestertius from its slab or not?

Well, I have been thinking for quite some time now on this one. The coin is beautiful, and the slab has a crack on the front that obscures the center of the obverse of the coin. So I either need to send it back in to be reslabbed, or take it out of its ANACS holder. What do you guys think?
Also, if I were to remove it, how would I go about doing that?

 

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My advice is, don't remove the coin. I have heard of people scratching coins from removing them from the slab. Just leave it in there, and pay the fee to get it reholdered, so you can see the rest of that nice obverse!

 

I would pull a Doug and take it saw to it. The coin is bronze, so I would really like to see cheap plastic put a scratch in it.

 

I was kinda leaning toward taking it out. It would be a bit of a hassle to send it back, and I don't even know how that whole process would work, or what the fees would be. But I'm still not entirely sure.

 

I cut a coin out with a ban saw. I cut the slab all around at about 2 cm from the edge. It came out perfectly and the clear rubber insert held it firmly. I say take it out of the holder but be careful

I would also like to add that a dremel with a cutting bit would work as well.

 

I would like to think that someone at ANACS would know that a thick coin would split a thin holder and not have put in there in the first place. What makes you think the new holder would not split as well?

 

..plus I doubt the slab adds any value at all to an ancient collector. I usually discount them since I have to go through the trouble of cracking them.

 

That's a good point, I hadn't even considered that the coin's thickness could have helped to cause the crack. It was not cracked at first, but after being shipped, it ended up with the crack you see, and there are hairline cracks even on the reverse side. I think I will remove it this weekend, probably just with a dremel since I don't have access to anything better for the job right now. From what weryon said, and looking at doug's avatar.... I think I can figure it out.... it is a larger diameter coin, so there is less margin for error between where I'm cutting, and where the edge of the coin is.... but I think I can manage, I'll be sure to show you guys the coin in its natural glory once I do. And as always, thanks for the suggestions and help.

and the slab may not add any value to an ancient collector, but the authentication surely helps.

 

A slab adds value by opening up a new market for the coin. Most coins in slabs are nice examples of ordinary things available Raw without a lot of trouble so collectors who don't like them can ignore them and not hurt their collections. My avatar was a $10 eBay purchase from which I gained a very ordinary $10 coin and that photo. I do not recommend releasing coins from slabs because that requires buying them. I have owned exactly one and you see it here. Please, someone show me a slabbed coin I want and I may have to make a decision but for things available already 'free', why bother.

 

Since the slab is messed up I'd take it out too, and skip reslabing it.

 

Is there a way to 'crack' them out somehow? without using a high speed cutting tool?

 

Well I did it. With no harm done to the coin or myself.... the slab however is a different story.... but I saved the paper with the information and everything of course. Take a look.

 

I was going to wait to cut it open...... but I didn't. The coin looks nice... very clean surfaces.... the same cannot be said for my desk however.... impromptu pictures.

 

Congrats on the breakout, haha. Looks like you did a good job, got pics of the remnants of the slab?

 

Now the ugly question: This was graded VF. Do you agree?

 

looks alot better now

 

As far as grade goes... I don't know, I'm never good with grading ancients. It looks a bit lower than VF though, but I can't very well say.

 

Good job, good to see it set free

BTW..its not just VF but VF 20!! with a 20 I assume you might justify and extra buck or two for no real reason? Its a very nice coin whatever the subjective grade might be.

 

Well, thanks for the comments, I sure am glad to see it free too. It feels great, a bit heavier than my other Severus Alexander Sesterces.
I bought the coin after it had already been certified, I ended up paying USD$23.50, so not a bad buy on my part if I do say so myself.

I like it much more minus the slab, but this doesn't mean I plan on removing my Severus Alexander 'ROMAE AETERNAE' Sestertius from its new style NGC Ancients holder.
The NGC holder isnt cracked, and the coin seems to fit well in the holder, unlike the way things were with this particular coin.

 

The humanity! You really shouldn't post pics of innards like that on the internet!