Sometimes a nice coin comes up for sale and it is slabbed. Well, if the price is right the coin can be acquired anyway and the problem fixed. Freedom can be gained. A C clamp and a cloth: Wrap it in the cloth to keep splinters from flying. Tighten. It creaks and crackles a bit and then there is a loud "pop". The red pen shows the top has separated. With a little prying it comes apart and the grading tag comes out (it is not damaged--I see the photo makes it look damaged, but that's a piece of broken plastic distorting the image. The tag is just fine.) Here is the coin with a simple iPad photo. It has, as most Alexanders do, high relief. Alexander the Great, Damascus mint (determined by the Ram's forepart at 8:00 on the reverse and ΔA (DAmascus) almost off the flan below the chair). 17.12 grams. Martin Price: 3201. "c. 330-c. 320 BC" likely, but not certainly, a lifetime issue (Alexander died in 323 BC). For many Greek cities there are many minor varieties (this one lacks letters below the seat that others have) and there is often not enough evidence to distinguish lifetime varieties from similar varieties issued until 320. I choose to think of this one as a lifetime issue.
Nice. I'm still waiting to free my Pius sestertius but I don't have a c clamp so will have to resort to a chisel and hammer. Not ideal which is why I'm putting it off!
No C clamp? How positively awful! I was once told one can never own too many clamps. You could use your vise. I sold my band saw so my next outing will be pressure.
