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"Unslabbing"

Started by Allan Ong,

28 posts in this topic

macrocoin

macrocoin

Posted
Posted

Most slabs you put in a vise...grab the edges furthest away from the actual coin, then just give it a half a twist more and that will crack the seal. You can probably get a pretty clean split right along the seam in most cases. If you search a bit, you may find a picture thread of the procedure here on this site....I remember seeing somthing to this effect about a month ago.

 

Goof luck.

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James_OldeTowne

James_OldeTowne

Posted
Posted

I've been using a hammer to crack open all slabs. It isn't necessarily the most elegant way, but I've yet to find a slab that could withstand a good smack across it edgewise. Just beware of the unidentified flying plastic makepoint.gif.

 

James

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Allan Ong

Allan Ong

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Never had any reason to crack it open... I was just curious as to whether it was even possible without damaging the contents. Thanks to all who replied.

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TerrapinWill

TerrapinWill

Posted
Posted
I've been using a hammer to crack open all slabs. It isn't necessarily the most elegant way, but I've yet to find a slab that could withstand a good smack across it edgewise. Just beware of the unidentified flying plastic makepoint.gif.

 

James

 

I use a very similar method....hammer around the edges....I cover the slab with whatever is around to keep plastic from flying around. Hammer works great on all slabs.

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Stanley

Stanley

Posted
Posted
Just curious -- is there a way to crack open a slab without using a hacksaw to cut the thing in half?

 

 

Yes.. I have opened a few slabs without doing any damage to the plastic. insane.gif

 

 

Are you the author of the home page journal about a suspicious slab you think may have been tampered with? And you had to refund a buyer?

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jom

jom

Posted
Posted

I've always felt (theoretically) a thermonuclear explostion would be most efficent but I've never tried. Maybe I'll do a test later today... 893whatthe.gif

 

jom

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HaydenTubbs

HaydenTubbs

Posted
Posted
I've always felt (theoretically) a thermonuclear explostion would be most efficent but I've never tried. Maybe I'll do a test later today... 893whatthe.gif

 

jom

 

 

I've heard lining the seams with C-4 works.

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Allan Ong

Allan Ong

Posted
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Yes. Blind-listed the slab without seeing it, then when the slab arrived, I just shipped it back out. Didn't realize the slab may have looked funny until the buyer complained...

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EZ_E

EZ_E

Posted
Posted

It would be extremely tough to crack a leading slab w/o it being very obvious. Some of the cheaper slabs will split easily and could be rejoined fairly easily but definitely not PCGS' and very, very improbable with NGC's.

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EZ_E

EZ_E

Posted
Posted
Never have. Why would you want to do such a thing? maybe for nefarious purposes such as 'content substitution'?

 

I never would! My understanding of the thread that the ebay slab was tampered with. My point was that I don't see NGC's or PCGS's slabs being cracked open and an inferior coin substituted. After all, this was done with the early ANAC grading certificates and photos. If there is an angle then an unscrupulous person will find it.

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James_OldeTowne

James_OldeTowne

Posted
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((( I've always felt (theoretically) a thermonuclear explostion would be most efficent )))

 

27_laughing.gif

 

Jom, I get the sense that you're not a big fan of slabs!

 

27_laughing.gif

 

James

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just carl

just carl

Posted
Posted

There are many methods of unslabbing a coin. I do it all the time. I put the coin in an album and tape the sticker that was in the slab on the inside cover of the album.

As to unslabbing you just have to take the thing outside, put it on a brick and turn a torch to the thing. An arc welder will also do the job. Usually the plastic will melt away leaving the coin untouched unless the coin was of a soft metal like Zinc, Aluminum, Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Tin, etc. Also not good idea if the coin is Plastic or Wood. If there is a brick wall near by just throw the slab at it sideways. Placing on a RailRoad Track works but just have to be careful not to have the coin part on the track. Placing the slab in the ground on top of an M-80 and ligashting it sometimes works also but you have to go looking for the coin.

I just take a hack saw to the edges and it falls open.

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Silvers24

Silvers24

Posted
Posted

What would be the purpose of unslabbing a coin? I understand for comics...but a coin has no pages, and you can see both sides of the coin.

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zrlevin

zrlevin

Posted
Posted

If you want to put a coin in an album, or if you want to hold/touch/feel/smell it etc.

 

If the coin is undergraded you may want to crack it out and re-submit it.

 

Zach

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Silvers24

Silvers24

Posted
Posted
If you want to put a coin in an album, or if you want to hold/touch/feel/smell it etc.

 

If the coin is undergraded you may want to crack it out and re-submit it.

 

Zach

I guess those are good reasons. lol

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Allan Ong

Allan Ong

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Only time I would even consider cracking it out would be to have it regraded (e.g. buying an SGS coin and seeing what NGC would grade it as)... Though I wonder if that's even worth the cost and effort...

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Silvers24

Silvers24

Posted
Posted
Only time I would even consider cracking it out would be to have it regraded (e.g. buying an SGS coin and seeing what NGC would grade it as)... Though I wonder if that's even worth the cost and effort...

 

Probably not. lol

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Bruceswar

Bruceswar

Posted
Posted

the crackout game can net you big money in a hurry if you know what you are doing... people do it all the time.... there are many more cracked out coins then you think....

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Silvers24

Silvers24

Posted
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I would say at least 25% of the coins in slabs today have been cracked out at one point or another.... and resubmitted

What would you do? I'd just leave mine in (Even though the chances of me buying coins, or graded coins is slim) the slab, and never remove it.

I'd like to slab my Morgan Silver Dollar from 1884, but, what was recommend to me sounds ok asswell.

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Bruceswar

Bruceswar

Posted
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I have a few coins that need new holders... they are scratched a bit... so I will reslab those.... I have a few that may upgrade... so I may reslab those... other than that.. I will leave my coins the slabs...

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jom

jom

Posted
Posted
Jom, I get the sense that you're not a big fan of slabs!

 

That is preposterous! What could have given you such an outrageous idea? 893scratchchin-thumb.gif

 

devil.gif

 

jom

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