How do I open a slabbed coin holder?

[Booky586]

I've just purchased a sovereign housed in a PCGS slab. It's the first coin I've bought in a slab and, to be honest, I prefer to store my coins in air-tite holders. So I thought, when it drops through the letterbox, that I could just take the slab off and put it in an air-tite.

Anyway, after a quick search on the net, I find the preferred method too remove a slabbed holder is to hit it with a hammer, followed closely by bolt cutters and then a band saw!

I'm not an experienced blacksmith and can see a damaged coin easily happening, so has anyone any experience of removing slabbed holders?

[Shinus73]

Hacksaw is my preferred method. Cut well away from the coin and prise apart. Not damaged one so far.

[ShaolinStacker]

I wrap the slab in a micro fiber cloth(to avoid shrapnel),  and hit the top corners and top edge with a hammer. A few whacks should do. I've done this with at least 20 slabs and never damaged the coin. Good luck

[Scuzzle]

I used a soldering iron to open mine, just scored through the plastic with the heat and lifted away the plastic section to reveal the coin.

Edit - I suppse a Dremmel and a cutting disc would do the same job, just cut out a square well away from the coin then lift off the plastic section to acess the coin.

[Booky586]

Thank you all for your replies.

@ShaolinStacker, I'm a bit uneasy about taking a hammer too close to an expensive coin, so I think I might try this out on something less expensive next time.

@Scuzzle, the soldering iron looks like a popular choice, but I don't have one. So...

@Shinus73, I'm going to try the hacksaw method.

Let you know how successful I've been once I've extracted the coin.

[terakris]

I've opened a few slabs. A pair of pliers on the top corner to break apart the seal then a screwdriver or something worked well but I now use a dremel and cut along the top edge (which usually melts due to the heat) and then prise open. You're well away from the coin so no chance of damage.

[AndrewSL76]

Morning, and Happy New Year to one and all! 

I asked this question too. I got some helpful responses and decided in the end to keep the coin in the slab and sell it. One of the responses I received from @Numistacker was too keep the label and return it to the relevant grading company so as to keep the census accurate. I think this is sound advise. I am going to be doing some grading in 2020 and so can appreciate the need to have this accurate, where possible!

Cheers. A.

[terakris]

3 hours ago, AndrewSL76 said:

Morning, and Happy New Year to one and all! 

I asked this question too. I got some helpful responses and decided in the end to keep the coin in the slab and sell it. One of the responses I received from @Numistacker was too keep the label and return it to the relevant grading company so as to keep the census accurate. I think this is sound advise. I am going to be doing some grading in 2020 and so can appreciate the need to have this accurate, where possible!

Cheers. A.

If you unslab NGC coins and have an account with them they will refund you like 50c for each label you return. not exactly going to make you rich but it keeps the census update and you get a bit of money for returning the label.

[motorbikez]

@terakris  I have broken a couple of coins out of NGC slabs & thrown away slab remnants & label, problem is re NGCs generous offer re labels it wouldn't even cover postage from the UK. lol.

[Roy]

16 minutes ago, terakris said:

If you unslab NGC coins and have an account with them they will refund you like 50c for each label you return

Glad to see they take it seriously!

(Not shooting the messenger 😉)

[JunkBond]

Wouldn't it be easier to just accept a picture of the label out of the slab, via email? 🤔

[motorbikez]

@JunkBond  that would be too simple pal.

[Roy]

They'd be better off offering a credit system, i.e. 3 returns equals a free grade or conservation.

Or a special label etc. The options are wide. 5c doesn't cut it.

I appreciate it's important to keep the database accurate, a system is only worth anything if it's reliable after all.

eg. The system may show 5 at MS65 but in reality you hold the only one graded!

[Guest]

5 hours ago, terakris said:

I've opened a few slabs. A pair of pliers on the top corner to break apart the seal then a screwdriver or something worked well but I now use a dremel and cut along the top edge (which usually melts due to the heat) and then prise open. You're well away from the coin so no chance of damage.

i also now use a dremel with a plastic pvc special disc and on the lowest speed setting

[JunkBond]

I didn't mess about. 😂

 

[RoughDog]

On 30/12/2019 at 23:17, Shinus73 said:

Hacksaw is my preferred method. Cut well away from the coin and prise apart. Not damaged one so far.

I second that.  Fairly cheap solution.

Something like this.  Wouldn't need to worry about the plastic being too big for the hacksaw frame when cutting the full length.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-mini-hacksaw-10/5028v

 

[terakris]

On the refund issue, if i had to post them then i wouldnt bother, but i just drop them off with my next submission so its not like its any extra hassle for me.

[Xander]

Simple's😉

 

[terakris]

Wow, no way I'd hit mine with a hammer like that!

[1817Karl]

41 minutes ago, Xander said:

Simple's😉

 

OMG thats one lucky coin...

[Xander]

4 minutes ago, 1817Karl said:

OMG thats one lucky coin...

I agree, I think I would give this one a miss.

[Melon]

Ah.... PCGS slab.... we meet again. 

[Booky586]

On 01/01/2020 at 11:15, AndrewSL76 said:

Morning, and Happy New Year to one and all! 

I asked this question too. I got some helpful responses and decided in the end to keep the coin in the slab and sell it. One of the responses I received from @Numistacker was too keep the label and return it to the relevant grading company so as to keep the census accurate. I think this is sound advise. I am going to be doing some grading in 2020 and so can appreciate the need to have this accurate, where possible!

Cheers. A.

Well I hadn't even considered returning the label, but I understand and it makes very good sense.

 

23 hours ago, JunkBond said:

Wouldn't it be easier to just accept a picture of the label out of the slab, via email? 🤔

This is a better idea though and so much easier. I'll try and get the grading reference removed via email first, if not the label will go back by mail.

[TheGoldSovereign]

@Booky586 What is the coin?

 

[Booky586]

2 hours ago, sg86 said:

@Booky586 What is the coin?

 

A full sovereign, 1885 Shield Reverse, Sydney branch. Check out the photos:

 

As you can see, I've not committed to the extraction yet.