break the slab?

I'm working on a set of unc. Washington quarters for a dansco album. I recently purchased one in a slab. Is it wise to break it out of the slab and put into the album? I'm close to filling all the holes, but I'm wondering.. when I'm dead and gone my kids will have no idea of it's condition and /or value of this coin or any others in the collection. Any thoughts on this.
Thanks, Mike

 

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I for one would break it out in a heart beat, UNLESS you plan on: selling it for profit, trading it for upgrade, or using it as a grading learning tool.

I love raw coins. I have purchased many slabbed MS Franklin halves for my BU years sets and I have also busted them free of their slabs, very carefully I might add.

When I'm dead and gone I hope to already know where my coins have gone and to whom. I hope to live to be old enough to no longer be able to lift the heavy binders that contain my coins. If the receiver of your coins does not collect or treasure them because they were yours then their grade or value is meaningless. I would sooner give them to a young collector who might get the enjoyment and appreciate them as I have then see them sold to a dealer or worse, then bank.

I have busted out a few NGC PR69 Silver Eagles and then sold them for profit. The slab game seems to me to be very over rated for a collector of my caliber. You bust out that quarter and do with it what you will. I am sure there are many many more just like it that have been slabbed and it will not be missed, the slabs that is.

Good Luck, Be Careful, and Keep on Collecting!!!

Allen

 

I break a lot of the coins I get out of the slabs. I also like to put them in albums.

 

post a pic of the coin before breaking it out

 

Really depends on you I guess. If you are going to break it out, be careful in doing so, and know what you are doing.

Phoenix

 

Pick a catalog value.
Below it you'll break a coin out.
Above it you won't.

My Lincoln album has 4 holes.
I have those 4 coins but they are in slabs.
And that's where they'll stay.

If you don't intend to sell your coins, then it doesn't matter.
Break them out and fill your album.

 

I would never ever break a coin out to put it in my binders... never it sounds stupid

 

Be carefull, but... BREAK IT OUT!!! Thats just my personal opinion though.

 

I don't ever have that problem. I don't buy slabbed coins.

 

Cut it out with a saw of almost any kind. Cut the edges off first and then just pry it open. DO NOT attempt to break it open with pliers, hammers or a vise. Plastic parts will be flying all over the place. Keep the little sticker inside that discribes your coin and you could add it to your album if you want. I have placed a blank sheet of paper inside each album and if any stickers from any coins from a slab, I add that to that extra sheet of paper. Don't know why but I do.

 

Interesting... everyone has advice, but no one bothered to ask what coin you're pondering breaking out !

Unc Washington, huh ? Well, if it's an MS62 1964, I'm sure breaking it out is fine.

But if it's an MS65 1932-D, no reasonable person would break it out and manhandle it into an album. Slabs do a better job of protecting coins; in albums they are MUCH more exposed.

The vast majority of valuable coins are in slabs - for good reason.

Thus Kanga's comment about "pick a catalog value", and above that value DON'T break it out.

 

I no longer buy coins that aren't slabbed unless they are basically bullion coins, and I wouldn't break one out. I have the same concern that you do; that my kids will get ripped off regarding grade and value for any coins with significant numismatic premiums unless they are slabbed.

 

Unless the collection has significant market value, which many do. For many collections, the grade and value is of great importance.

 

yes, 900fine, that is a very good question. The coin is 1939 D MS 64 graded by NGC. It's already out of the slab, so I can't get an image of it in there.
Mike

 

I just bought 2 slabbed Peace dollars (NGC 1923 D and 1926 S) and broke them free today to put in my Dansco Peace album. No regrets here.

 

Wow, how my opinion has changed over the last 2 years.

 

It's in a slab, it's in an album, the coin is the same. Why take it out? Sorry I am pro slab but that may because of the coins I purchase. Then again I don't know much.

 

Wait a minute. I remember somebody helping me with photography equipment......

 

I don't know why albums have holes for proofs (especially the modern ones). Breaking them out of slabs or mint holders and forcing them into a hole definately lowers the grade. Although I do fill the hole with the lower value proofs, I also buy others to keep in the mint holder.

 

Maybe it does lower the grade but there are some of us who do enjoy popping these coins out of the mint holder and inserting it into an album 'hole".....