Help! My coins are stuck in a tube!

Hi,
I just got a BU roll of 1953 Lincolns in an old M. MEGHRIG & SONS plastic tube. The coins are completely stuck in there. The enders look really high grade, so I don't want to damage any coins getting them out of the tube. Does anyone have any suggestions on freeing the coins without damaging them? Thanks.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

On an older thread, Doug wrote this: thread was at http://www.cointalk.com/t8759/

So I'd say check with him First before doing anything.

 

Can't say I have experience buy try reading through this thread

 

Try mine. Same problem. Do the hack sawing first though. You may have to damage one, but it is totally worth it.
http://www.cointalk.com/t199635/#post1360723

 

I'm going to stick my neck out here What about putting the roll in a zip-lok baggie & putting in the freezer for 15 minutes or so. The metal coins may contract just enough to come loose or the plastic coin tube may become more brittle to break easily. Just my 2 cents of a thought.

 

I would try the warm/hot water first. The tube will probably expand a little which will free the coins.

 

Unless you really need to save the tube, it's rather easy to crack the tube from around the coins without damaging the coins.

 

Go with Blzr's and Comaro's idea first.

 

I have gently squeezed the tube with pliers and have unlodged several rolls with out damaging any coins. What I did was rotate the roll slowly as I squeezed. I was able to get a few out at a time that had been in since the 60's.

 

Thanks for all the tips. So far I have tried the freezer/hot water technique and managed to get one coin out. The roll is back in the freezer now and if I can stay awake long enough I will try again. The coin I did free looks really good. I will keep you posted.

 

put it near some very radioactive source. not only will the coins come out, but they will glow in the dark!

 

I wouldn't want to own any coin, or anything for that matter, that is radioactive.

 

My coins have been freed! I tried the freezer/hot water routine twice with no luck. What I ended up doing was using a razor knife to scribe several lines along the length of the tube and put the coins back in the freezer. After about a half hour, I took the tube of coins out and dropped it on a cement floor. The tube cracked along the scribed lines and the coins could then be shaken out easily. If you ever need to do this, just make sure you keep the roll in a zip lock bag. That way if the tube completely splits you won't have to chase coins all over the floor.

 

EEK! did you have any newly damaged coins in there?

 

Last night I was going to say use a dremel but I didnt think you wanted to chance it

 

Do you have a glow in the dark watch?

 

Same problem here, and now looks like I have a project now....

 

got 'em out! I must have looked like an otter working on a clam shell!

 

I guess I'll try the freezer idea. I have 1956 no mint roll

 

Best to start your own post. This one is from 2012.