Will Opening a Slabbed Coin Hurt the Coin or Its Value?
Put the hammer down and back away from the slab.
Maybe you sent a coin in for grading, didn’t like the grade, and concluded the coin looks better in a coin album. Or this could be the first step to getting the coin graded again.
Opening a coin slab is known as breaking out. Like breaking out of jail. Your coin has been sealed in a protective case, that while plastic, is strong.
Using blunt force to open a slabbed coin can damage your coins and send small, sharp pieces of plastic flying toward your face. Read this guide before you try to open a coin slab.
Will Opening a Slabbed and Graded Coin Impact Its Value?
Opening a coin slab without exercising caution can cause damage to the coin. Breaking a slabbed seal can hurt your coin’s resale value, based on the grade given by a grading organization. Generally speaking, coins are worth more when they are graded and sealed in a slab, so think carefully before you remove it.
One motive some collectors have for opening graded slabs is they believe it has been mistakenly graded and they want it reexamined. Grading is subjective, even at the professional level, and many graders will often grade conservatively. Coin collectors will sometimes crack open a case to have it reevaluated in the hopes of achieving a higher grade.
Other times collectors will just want to display it alongside other coins in an album or alternative storage solution, but we generally recommend that collectors do not do this for the sake of the coin. Not only is the coin safer in a slab than just about any other storage method, but it also can be considered more valuable in that storage solution than anywhere else where it could be scratched or dented potentially. It’s all about risk vs reward however, and collectors are free to enjoy the hobby in the way they prefer.
How Do I Open a Slabbed Coin?
Opening a sealed and slabbed coin without causing damage can be challenging and it is imperative to take precautions for the safety of the coin. Follow these steps to cautiously open a coin:
You’ll want to handle the coin and holder with care throughout the process. If you are unsure about opening the slabbed coin, it’s best to seek assistance from a coin dealer or grading service.
Examine the slabbed coin. Look for defects that could potentially be exacerbated by opening it. If the coin looks like it is in bad condition, you may want to reconsider opening the slab.
You may need a few tools for this, and what you’ll need depends on what kind of slab it is.
Tools Required to Open a Slabbed Coin
- Cotton gloves
- A large flathead, hobby knife, or edged pry tool
- Tin or wire snips
- A plastic case to temporarily house the coin
To Break Out an NGC Slabbed Coin
This slab has been sealed with sonic waves. It is made to be durable.
You could hit it with a hammer and risk hurting your coin and hand, but that will take some time and could be painful.
Another option is using a wide tool with a flat edge, like a large flathead screwdriver, hobby knife, or any metal pry tool with a thin or fine edge. Select a grooved area level with the coin to begin.
The edge of this needs to be in the groove of the slab. When it is in the groove, turn the handle so that the edges of the blade are facing opposite edges in the groove and apply pressure while turning.
The goal is to pry apart the front and back of the slab. Repeat, moving toward the corner of the slab until it easily gives up the coin.
Once the coin is free, put it in a case with a gloved hand for temporary storage until you place it in its new holder.
Breaking Out a PCGS-Slabbed Coin
If you have one of the newer PCGS holders, you might notice that they are significantly thicker than the old holders and the socket is deeper, as well.
To break this coin out, you will need gloves, a pair of tin or wire snips, and a plastic bag or other temporary container for your coin.
You’ll want to make a small cut just inside the edge of the socket, at the middle of the circle of the holder inside the slab. Be careful not to cut the holder itself.
The goal is cutting the socket that is locked in place and causing the slab to crack so you can freely remove the coin inside its interior holder. If your cut did not achieve that, hope it not lost but a few minutes are.
Repeat the initial cut along the edge, moving toward the corner, until the slab easily opens.
Once you’ve opened the slab, remove the coin holder and with gloves on, put the coin in its new holder.
Put the coin in your favorite album or send it in for more grading, it’s up to you.
It’s best to handle the holder and coin with care throughout the process. Contact a local coin dealer or grading service if you’re concerned about damaging your coin.
