What is the best way to break open a proof set?

regular pliers work if you want to break it open, but you can always use a tool, like a kitchen knife also, or exacto, but it does not matter just split it from the side. waite don't cut yourself, or try hard, if you try hard your doing it wrong.

 

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It is very understandable that when your IQ test score, and your shoe size match, that it definitely would be a major challenge to operate a simple tool as a pair of vise grip pliers.

 

Yes, there must be a pair of "vice" grips for sex, drugs and gambling some member use I'm not aware of!

 

and someones Mouth , not you

 

I have big feet. But I'd be banned from CT if I took the big feet association to other anatomical things.

 

ya Paddy, just kiddin.

 

Anyone else want to argue about how to open plastic, bring it on. Im bored

 

Dump the slab in some liquid nitrogen and hit it with a hammer.

 

Ill buy the proof sets, we can try liquid oxygen on a bbq . with some 100 proof prior. Na Moonshine. smooth Kentucky moonshine. rare.

 

Liquid nitrogen you wouldn't need a hammer just drop it 6 inches...which reminds me of a HS bio and Liquid nitrogen treating it on several things flowers, candy , and a gold fish the would of began to swim in it bowl ,if not for the fact the teacher dropped the fish from 6 inches on her desk.... parts are parts.....and frozen parts shatter....just like a long stem rose....did....

 

Funny thread. I built two presidential sets for my grandkids and had to open quite a few presidential proof sets. I laid a towel on the table in case one popped out. I just twisted the set back and forth until I heard a crack, then lessened the pressure of my twists until the crack was pronounced. At which point I could usually pry the two sides apart.

 

Wow. Thats alot. Yeah they won't fit in the coin star with all thAT plastic

 

Use one of the smaller eyeglass screwdrivers, then once it starts a very small opening go to the next larger size screwdriver, and then the next one until you can slide the screwdriver across the slab. From there, it's easy to open.

 

It really depends on what year the proof set is. For example vice grips or pliers are not of much use on say a 1963 set. An exacto knife will work much better on those. Pliers or vice grips could work real well on say a 1969 set. You can still get it open with an exacto knife but it will be a lot more difficult and you could injure yourself. Post 1998 sets open easily with the exacto knife because they are not sealed and are just snapped closed. Easy to work the knife into the joint and then you can just open it with your fingers.

 

What a fun read. Now I know what to do if and when I want open any of my proof sets.

 

I ruined a fleabay seller for replacing coins and selling cracked open sets as original, he stopped his short-term numismatic adventure.