Few things are as upsetting as bidding on a coin via the Internet only to receive your winning lot with a pin scratch that the photograph hid or worse — that was manipulated visually to hide. But the most upsetting occurrence is to receive a coin without a scratch that you inflict while opening a flip.
This column uses more video rather than text to show how this happens and how you can avoid it in the future.
First, always ask an online auctioneer to provide better photos if you see a coin that may contain a scratch. Or patronize sellers who post several photos of a coin, revealing the scratch. Here is one who does the latter:
Hover to zoom.
As you can see, the scratch is not plainly visible in the photo with the flip but then becomes obvious when a close-up of the coin is shared. Unfortunately, many auctioneers provide only minimal and often blurry photos. So bid on these at your own risk.
Staplers are the main cause of scratches on coins. In this video, you’ll see the difference between a typical stapler and a numismatic one in securing a coin inside a flip.
How you open a flip also can cause a pin scratch. This happens when you pull apart a flip and try to secure the coin in your fingers, sometimes scratching your finger or pulling the coin across an open staple.
This is what happened when I opened a flip in the wrong way.
Here’s a video on that:
Finally, the best way to open a flip is to use a scissors to cut the corners of the flip, moving the corner with the staple a safe distance from the coin.
Here’s a video on that:
If you follow these simple, visual rules — contacting sellers for better photos, taking care opening flips — you will save yourself anguish and money for the hobby.
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Opening flips for me is technique over tools. After scratching a few pristine coins I now have a oyster knife modified with a rounded, tapered blade. I ALWAYS ALWAYS bend the staple ends up by pushing the knife away from the coin so when the knife slips it digs up the flip away from the window. No matter where the staple is placed. Once the bent ends are straightened, turn the flip over and insert the knife end (ALWAYS away from the coin) and with a twist of the handle, out it comes, Any slip of the knife will always be away from the coin.
I use the Max coin stapler also and use Leitz white staples to blend the staple with the color of the flip. BTW, II have changed to self-adhesive flips; they seal all around the coin. Great protection especially when accidentally dropped into a cup of coffee. For coins smaller than a silver dollar they work fine. Silver dollar sized coins I put a staple at the 12 O’clock position.