What's the highest grade/value coin you've cracked out...

DJC

...NOT for an upgrade or resubmission of any kind.
I'm talking about for placing in an album, to just be able to "really" hold it in hand, or just 'cause you were settin' it free. How much does the piece have to be worth ($500/$5000/more?) or how high does the grade need to be (MS66/67/doesn't matter?) to keep you from busting it out?

Barry

I have some MS64's in my type set, but some of the lower grade coins are worth much more (the coppers, seated $1, and gold, for example).

DJC

Thought you'd catch this one, Barry!

Basically wondering how many others will go as far as you and I have (not that my set is in that league, but I would/will crack 'em too.)

In truth, I'm looking at a nice AU50 1877 Indian (my biggest purchase yet!) and having second thoughts!

(It's in ANACS AU53 plastic {no problems, just not quite a 53, IMO}, from FUN '05, through a co-worker/fellow collector)
-edited to add line above

OKbustchaser

Cracked from NGC-55.

haletj

$100 ms66rd 1947 and 1948 Lincoln Cents. I put them in plastic holders to go with the rest of my raw Lincoln Set 1930-d to date. I very much thought about cracking out my early dates too (worth $1000's). I guess I made the poor choice though, and instead sent my late dates to pcgs. What a waste of money.

By the way I would never have a problem cracking out a circulated coin even if it is worth a million dollars.

greghansen

I generally have no qualms about cracking out circulated coins. I freed an 1894 Morgan and an 1889-CC Morgan, both VF coins, both worth about $1,300, to place them in my album. I have a 93-S in VF25 that I haven't had the nerve to free yet. I would probably be less likely to crack out something MS65 or better, regardless of value, just because it is more likely to get dinged somewhere along the line.

DJC

Generally, I don't have a problem "setting free", circulated coins, and I've done it to everything I've purchased. Most of those purchases have been from $50-250, with a dozen or so beyond that, up to the $500-900 range. It just kinda hit me with this Indian (slide marks, dings, cold feet, you know?)

As for MS/PRF coins I don't generally go for the premium grades, where the money and reality start to part ways, IMO. Why pay 65 or 66 money when it's coming out of the slab anyway? Most collectors, or dealers, won't pay those premiums for raw, even if they're confident it will go 65 or 6. I love pickin' those beautiful 64s for a third (or quarter, or tenth) of the money!

dbldie55

Highest value was a VG-10 1893-S Morgan, Highest grade was a MS64 1903-O Morgan for my Dansco set.

1946Hamm

This is one I freed for my SLQ set. I've cracked several for my Type Set and Commemorative Set. I just don't like holes in my Capital set holders. This is probably the most expensive I've cracked. I have cracked many 64's for my Commem. Set.

DorkGirl

The only coin I have ever cracked out was for my Morgan album, AGC AU-50 1894. I paid XF money ($500) for it at the time. I don't have very many slabbed coins, so it is hardly ever a problem for me

D

MS65 Stone Mountain.

-Daniel

jdimmick

Probably a 32-d quarter in 63, but that was some ime back for a set of washington's .

Atlantic

Cracked a 1877 Indian in a NGC 40 holder to put in an album

dorkkarl

i have cracked out several coins grading pr-69, mostly kennedy & ikes

i have cracked out MANY coins in the 1000's dollar range

my rough guess is that the total value of what i've cracked out is $40 - $50 K

i don't have the slightest hesitation doing this.

K S

USMC_6115

My most expensive one was for my type set. It was a problem free 1813 Classic Head Large Cent in PCGS VF30...

rottnrog

MS66 1995 Washington quarter struck on a nickel planchet. I collect them by date and mintmark and put them in a Whitman album.

airplanenut

I cracked an NGC AU58 1912 gold $5 among many others at a recent cracking party