What's the best way to break out UNC pennies from plastic coin tubes from the 1960s?
DisneyFan
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I have a few rolls with UNC Lincoln Head pennies stuck in them. The coins will not move.
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I have not done this, but here's what I would try: Put the tube in the freezer for a couple hours, then run hot water over them for about 30 seconds and tap the tube on the counter open end down.
Are these the clear tubes with the tight friction held clear end caps on both ends? Great question. I have a few that come off just fine, but others are real buggers. Years ago, I cut one off. Not something I’d like to repeat.
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Have you tried the freezer?
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Wrap a rag around the tube, snug it in a vice then try to turn it/loosen it with taped off pliers, be careful
I think the issue is that the coins are stuck, not that the caps won't come off. 🧐
I'd pound the tube om a table or counter with the open end facing down.
They are basically shrink wrapped so the answer is it depends on how bad. Put a towel down on a hard surface and with the top open flip it over and hit the open end down on the towel. Do this as many times as it takes. You may have to get a hammer. Once you get a few out, determine if it is worthwhile to keep going by looking at the coins. Once you get some free space you wil have the ability to remove some of the plastic with pilers if you need to.
Shrinky Dink Tubes! The Curse of old coin accumulations.
Try the above ideas (yes, the freezer, but minus the pliers and hammer) if the coins are actually valuable enough to be worth your time!
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30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!
Fifty cents (per roll) is $0.50. Probably would make a great science fair project for some kid.
What can you buy for 50c?
30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!
A roll of "pennies".
Probably won’t salvage all.
Eventually the bronze cents (pre '82) will be legal to melt.
Three penny rolls will buy you an all beef hot dog and 20 oz soda with refills at Costco for $1.50.
Drop the entire tube in acetone for a week.
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My method is to use a hacksaw blade to cut lengthwise along the tube, cutting until it almost hits the coins. Then insert a large flat blade screwdriver into the slot created by the hacksaw blade, and split the tube open. Works like a charm, but you need to be careful not to cut too deeply.
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Throw em on the ground
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I had 2 rolls (old wheats not unc. coins) that would not open and seemed sealed forever. One 40+ below day while stuck at home during a blizzard I put them on the front step outside. I left them there all afternoon. I put a pot of water on to boil then brought them in and dropped them straight into the boiling water. 1 cracked so bad I was able to easily use a screwdriver to split apart. The other took a second round of fun with thermal dynamics. helps if you live in Minnesota. James
I posted about this over at CoinTalk a while ago - find yourself a small adjustable pipe cutter and a vise grip. Will cut the tube into sections without much worry about cutting into the coins (if you take it slowly) and once squeezed they start to just fall right out for the most part.
I’ll see if I can find my post and link it here.
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/i-finally-solved-a-recurring-coin-problem.317351/
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Had to do this with several better BU rolls in the pre-internet days of the early 1990's. They are a type of softer plastic that shrinks and grips the coins tight over time as opposed the common hard plastic tubes.
I tried the freezer method and it had no effect. Seems like another dealer may have given me the advice that worked.
Here is what worked for me.
Had to put them standing up , without the caps on, as a group in a deep pan with water as close to top as possible without going in the tube. Brought them to a boil having small bubbles starting without a rolling boil that would flood the inside (not sure how much that mattered if it had or not). Maybe boiled at that level for a few minutes then used tongs to take a roll out and holding in an oven mitt immediately was able to get almost all of the roll out onto a towel.
A few might stick at the bottom and I think was able to get them by reheating the bottom without having to cut the tube.
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