Opening 1976 3 piece silver proof set capsules

Datentype

Does anyone know of the best way to get 1976 silver proof Washington, Kennedy and IKE silver proof coins out of the original capsules from the mint without damaging coins? Is there a tool that used?

AUandAG

Pocket knife or sharp blade to put in the crack between the halves. Pry slowly and don't slice your thumb or finger. I just tried it on the quarter in the set and was unable to follow my own directions....maybe I'll try a hammer next!

bob:(

JRocco

Put the capsule on it's edge and put a sharp point (like a pocket knife tip) on the seam and give it a gentle tap.
Gentle so as not to break through and damage the coin, but enough to create a gouge. then use this gouge as a lever to pry the halves apart as described by AUandAG.

DIMEMAN

Table saw!

TopographicOceans

I've used flat edge screwdrivers.
You can also take a pair of scissors to cut around the coins

TurboSnail

the mini screw driver for glasses is safer.

abcde12345

Will pcgs pop those out of the capsules for grading? If not, don't send them in that way.

ChrisH821

Skin heals, coins don't

thebeav

I've used single-edge razor blades for things like this all my life. Yes, I still have all my fingers !

Datentype

Great ideas - thanks!

ricko

Occasionally, I could 'twist' them open.... most of the time, I used a knife, carefully inserted into the separation line, and then gently twisted back and forth, moving the knife edge around the container as it separated. Cheers, RickO

thevolcanogod

I've opened lots of these and the only time I tried with a knife I ruined 2 coins. These capsules are sonically sealed very tight. Here's the method I use now and has resulted in perfect crackout ever since:

Find a bench vise and put a towel under it. Wrap the capsul in a thin cloth. Put it in the vise so the coin is being squeezed on the rim (i.e. How you would pick up a coin). Slowly tighten until you hear a soft snap or you feel you're going to damage the coin. Take capsul out, rotate 90 degrees, follow same procedure. Take out, rotate 45 degrees, same thing. Take out, rotate 90 degrees. Same thing. At this point the capsul should have broken apart. Now take a screwdriver and gently pull the halves apart wiggling the tip in the opened seam if there's any resistance left.

1630Boston

@thevolcanogod
I can tell that you have done this many times because you said "Find a bench vise and put a towel under it".
No one would think of putting the towel under the vice until a coin fell to the floor.

Datentype

Okay the winner for me is putting the coin on it's side and banging the edge lightly with a hammer while rotating it. They pop open pretty easily.