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How do I/should I, unslab a slabbed coin?


Divmad

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In my naive first purchases of Peace Dollars, back in 2008, I bought coins from the now defunct UK Grade Evaluation Company. Stupid me. I can see now that the high grades are fictitious, but the coins are still highly graded and attractive, imho. 

How best to sell them? Force open the case somehow, or sell them "as is" on here?IMG_20220118_123256144.thumb.jpg.f18995624427c88c93299bd33c1c01dd.jpgIMG_20220118_123238987.thumb.jpg.c3a20f2e63ecd6ca6d7323d847d8edb2.jpg 

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Can't advise on whether to sell in or out of slab, maybe reach out to @DuncanWylieWilson @LukeStacker @MickD for advice ( they seem to sell/buy often.

As for opening...a dremel or multi tool will open that in no time with controlled destruction. 

I like to buy the pre-dip dip

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The only one I ever liberated from a slab - I just used a hammer and chisel.  

1889 penny, bought very cheaply at an auction because nobody else bid on it.  Wasn't particularly looking to buy it, but it was a bargain for the price paid.  It looks nice alongside my other raw predecimal pennies.


if that dollar was mine - I'd either sell it on as it is (in the slab), or break it out of the slab and keep it.

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I stand them on edge on a concrete surface and lightly tap along the seem with a hammer.  Do this to a couple of sides.  It then pops right out.  Might want to wear gloves and glasses.  As far as the coin goes, it is way over graded, but you probably knew that.

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Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the only two slabbed coin graders that should not be opened are slabs from NGC and PCGS (there may be others that I'm unaware of).  Coins slabbed by these 2 companies "usually" keep their value or more if kept long enough.   I'm not familiar with "UK Grade Evaluation Company" as shown in the picture.  Personally if the coin came slabbed, I would just leave it as is.  Why potentially risk scratching or damaging the coin if you don't need to physically hold it.

Edited by SilverStorm
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Do something different....roll video tape, fire up the blow torch and melt the edges off. Post on YT...would be a shoe in for 000's of views and might even generate enough views and ad $ to cover the cost of the original purchase 😄....Do it with some care and the coin should be fine.

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20 hours ago, erv said:

As far as the coin goes, it is way over graded, but you probably knew that.

I believe the UK grading was out of 100 (which makes more sense). 

Whereas NGC and PCGS grading are out of 70.

This would explain why the coin in question was graded MS65. 

But I could be wrong ! 🤔

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Might this be a case of someone creating their own company that slabs and sells its own coins? Can't find anything on the company after a quick search. The only UK based one that seems legitimate but unpopular is LCGS.

A rotary tool is the quickest precise way of opening a slab, or slicing through it with a heated blade, but as long as you're cautious near the coin itself it's only plastic so have at it. 

I would run over the edge with a car. No real reason.

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On 21/01/2022 at 02:22, Oddjob said:

Do something different....roll video tape, fire up the blow torch and melt the edges off. Post on YT...would be a shoe in for 000's of views and might even generate enough views and ad $ to cover the cost of the original purchase 😄....Do it with some care and the coin should be fine.

Just Drexel along the very edge, they're sonically sealed so no hot plastic should even get near the coin..my lcs just flings them at the floor but we're talking au and under, ms and its vice time..I had a damaged ngc slab and sent it in to get restored and regraded, cost me $150 but was going to do it anyways so better them then me, when it comes to a $4000 coin.

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