Have you cracked a coin out to put into an album?

TurtleCat

It’s been talked about many times but I was curious how many people have actually cracked a coin out to put into an album. I haven’t done it yet but I just ordered a few items specifically to be cracked out and put into albums. So it’ll be a yes for me very soon.

vplite99

Never. That would be illogical.

3stars

I have

I have for more common dates to fill an album. Would never bust out a key date or condition rarity.

CoinJunkie

I have

Just common Lincoln cents for a Dansco, and primarily from non-PCGS holders.

johnny9434

I have not

no I never saw any point of it. that's me though

coinbuf

I have

Yes some common dates in basement grader holders and a few others including a modern commem for my 7070

U1chicago

I have

I have. My Dansco Type set included several details graded coins so it wasn't that big of a deal to crack them.

TurtleCat

I have

The ones I’m cracking out are all lower end common coins as well. My main reason for getting them is to better ensure a problem-free coin and reduce the odds of counterfeit. So far the most expensive one I’ll do (when I get it) is $50.

Moxie15

I have

cracked a green bean to put in my Dansco

Jimnight

I have not

Nope.

seanq

I have

Not for a while but I am about to do it again very soon.

Sean Reynolds

TurtleCat

I have

@Moxie15 said:
cracked a green bean to put in my Dansco

That takes a lot of moxie, Moxie15!

mannie gray

I have not

No I have not.

jesbroken

I have

I did quite a few for my first Dansco 7070, placing the labels in the back of the album and have done 3 for my last Lincoln set, a 31S, 24D, and 14D. Actually, haven't broke open the 31S and 14D yet, but will before giving the set to my grandson. Still lack the 09SVDB and it will be done.
Jim

U1chicago

I have

Probably the most expensive coin I've cracked for my album:

Baley

I have

Dozens, from $20 cost to over $1000

WaterSport

I have

I put them here...

privatecoin

I have

Yep. A details grade...

BryceM

I have

Yes, but only coins that probably didn’t deserve to be slabbed to start with.

oih82w8

I have not

I have not even considered it.

kiyote

Two so far— 1979 and 1981 S Type 2 SBAs. I wanted the guarantee they were type 2s before putting them into my capital plastic album

SkyMan

I have

Yes, multiple times. Most expensive one was under $200.

Sonorandesertrat

I have

Half of the coins in my Dansco 7070 album are pieces that I removed from their PCGS/NGC/ANACS slabs, and I thought all were properly graded.

Tunis

I am currently cracking out coins for my Dansco. Getting quite proficient at doing it as well. Buying Proof DCAMs 69 to crack.

Smittys

I bought a large collection that were all broke out of slabs and put in albums, he saved the labels luckily

Mercury

I have

I couple of Morgan Dollars, One PCGS and one from some no name holder for a New Orleans Mint Capital holder.

ElmerFusterpuck

I have

Usually for the lower cost items, but I have cracked out a VF-30 1841 seated dollar and an 1874 trade dollar from an old ANACS holder for the Dansco type album. Most recently, I cracked out am 1876 details trade dollar - graded XF with a hole! That's become my quarantine coin necklace - at least I know the coin is genuine.

I wonder how many people here have had a coin graded themselves, then cracked it out for an album?

Bullet01

I have

I mostly def have. People are a slave to the slab.

coinhack

I have

Yes I have.

Most of the coins that I have collected are type coins. The ones that arrived in holders are still in holders. But I do have collections of Morgan and Peace dollars and a 7070 book. The Morgan and 7070 book have been upgraded over the years. Sometimes raw and sometimes with slabbed coins.

Obviously, most collectors do not believe in cracking coins to put them in albums and I understand their reasoning. But I get much more enjoyment out of these coins in the sets than if they were stored away in boxes.

When I was finishing off the 7070 book, I was having a hard time finding nice seated coins, especially raw. At the 2017 ANA show someone advised me to try Gerry Fortin because he specialized in nice seated coins and they were right. He had some very nice material and I ended up buying an 1853 with arrows dime in PCGS62 CAC, an 1875-S 20 cent in PCGS AU55 old green label CAC, and an 1877 quarter in PCGS MS61. Gerry said they made a nice group of type coins, especially the 20 cent coin was "in the perfect holder" with the green label and sticker. Unfortunately, I told him, they were all going to be broken out and put in an album. He smiled but did give me a bit of an eye roll.

To each his own. I enjoy those coins and all the others in the 7070 book.

TurtleCat

I have

I gotta say, a lot more people crack out for albums than even I would have guessed.

CoinHoarder

I have not

I have not. Not even the cheap ones.

bsshog40

I have

I have cracked a few! I keep the labels in the back of the album though.

hchcoin

I have not

I've thought about it a thousand times but just couldn't bring myself to do it.

mcarney1173

I have

One and it’s a funny story. It was a Jefferson Presidential Dollar in an ICG holder for my 7070. As you know there’s no slot for a Presidential Dollar in a 7070 so i was left with a raw presidential dollar.

OKbustchaser

I have not

Not to put into an album...

but that's because I don't use albums. Over the years I have cracked over a 100 coins to put into 2X2's.

Walkerfan

I have not

Not yet....

I wouldn't do it if the coin's dollar value was too great.

CCGGG

I have

Only once... I cracked out a VF 1909-S vdb to complete my "circulated" Lincoln cent set. Just didn't like seeing the empty spot. I probably could have easily bought a raw one in that grade but I'd would have always wondered if it was counterfeit.... I do have pictures of the coin/slab (before and after) and I kept the tag, but I really don't plan on selling the set so it doesn't matter to me.

So in this case, I definitely bought the coin not the holder.

PerryHall

I have not

I had a friend who put together a high grade type set for his 7070 album. Almost all coins were slabbed and then cracked out for his album. After a couple of years his collecting interests changed and he decided to sell his 7070 set. You guessed it. He had to send most of his coins back to PCGS to get them reslabbed. It wasn't cheap.

dbldie55

I have

Many times. At the time of purchase the 1893-S Morgan was the most expensive coin I had ever bought. Had it cracked out at the dealers shop. Completed my Business strike album. Cracked many of the other Morgan's in that set as well.

JimW

I have

I have to fill a LWC album. I saved photos prior to crackout that show enough detail that one can verify the coin in the album is the one in the holder. I will admit it was a tough decision, but wanted to make sure coins like the 09SVDB were legit.

2ndCharter

I have

Only once... I cracked out a VF 1909-S vdb to complete my "circulated" Lincoln cent set. Just didn't like seeing the empty spot. I probably could have easily bought a raw one in that grade but I'd would have always wondered if it was counterfeit.... I do have pictures of the coin/slab (before and after) and I kept the tag, but I really don't plan on selling the set so it doesn't matter to me.

I did exactly the same thing - it's in the Whitman Folder I've have since I was a kid almost 60 years ago! I just wanted to finally plug that final hole and I wanted to make sure it was real. It will never get sold while I'm alive.

TwoSides2aCoin

I have

Yes. I couldn't find a raw one that looked right.

Rollerman

I have

I've done it several times looking for something for the type set (I have 2 / 7070's). I'm not a slave to slabs anyway, it's my hobby and like to do what I want with them. I have a ton of slabs, don't get me wrong, it's just that I enjoy my albums a lot.

kiyote

I buy mostly modern’s, and it’s just my opinion but OGP > PCGS/NGC MS + PRF 69s. Pricewise, they were almost identical.

csdot

I have

Some of the gold in my 7070 type set.

Mdcoincollector2003

I have

I have cracked out a half dollar for my 7070; it was an ANACS though.

BillJones

I have

Very early on, circa 1990, when slabbing was getting started, I cracked out an 1878 7 over 8 tailfeather silver dollar so that I could put it into this Capital Plastics holder. It was in an NGC MS-63 holder. I have not cracked out anything else for that purpose since. The only crack-outs I have done have been for up grades.

lkenefic

I have

I've cracked out coins for my 7070 as well.

oldabeintx

I have

In the early TPG years before slabs became as prevalent, to put into Capital plastic. I still break out medals and put them into trays,

seanq

I have

@CCGGG said:
Only once... I cracked out a VF 1909-S vdb to complete my "circulated" Lincoln cent set. Just didn't like seeing the empty spot. I probably could have easily bought a raw one in that grade but I'd would have always wondered if it was counterfeit.... I do have pictures of the coin/slab (before and after) and I kept the tag, but I really don't plan on selling the set so it doesn't matter to me.

So in this case, I definitely bought the coin not the holder.

I sold a nice certified MS64RB coin and bought a circulated VF for my own date set, the same rationale applied, the empty hole in the album was driving me crazy.

Sean Reynolds

Zoins

I have

The most expensive coin I've cracked out is a double eagle.

Cracking out coins can be fun.