Breaking Apart A NGC Case: Stupid Idea?

I've cracked an ancient out of an NGC holder to put in a set before.

I recommend checking the NGC site and enter your certification number. NGC will often have photos of the coin in the slab, if yours does and you crack it and keep the NGC label with the coin, you won't totally lose out on the authenticity verification. You would still lose the grading, protection, and liquidity of the coin though.

Frankly, if you're going to buy an ancient coin and don't need or want it slabbed, don't buy a slabbed one. The risk of damaging the coin during crackout isn't worth it. Leave the slabbed ancients for the investors and speculators.

Get a "raw" coin from a trusted ancients specialist. Most ancients collectors put more faith in a good dealer's word than in the TPGs, anyhow.

Some collectors like slabbed ancient coins, some do not. I prefer mine not slabbed. Modern collecitble coins can be damaged if touched/handled with your fingers. Ancient coins can be held, no problem. I enjoy holding my ancient coins, imagining who held them, used them over a thousand years ago. Of course when I hold one I do it above a table so I don't drop it on the floor.

You could put an ancient coin in a display case lika a museum. But then peeple could only see one side of it unless you suspend it over the top of a mirror. Friends and family would likely enjoy actually holding one rather than just looking at it. You could buy a few inexpensive ancient coins to hold and buy an expensive one slabbed or in a case to look at. Vcoins is a good place to buy in my opinion. There's a few CCF members that sell ancient coins on ebay and/or Vcoins, you can trust them, Victor's Imperial Coins for example. You can buy decent late Roman bronze coins for around $25.

I would not spend the money to buy a slabbed ancient coin that provides authenticity and protection then break it out, especially if it's an expensive one.

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I'm all for cracking out coins that aren't ultra-rare museum-quality pieces that require the utmost care and protection from the environment.

Something like a Messana hare tetradrachm with Pan should be slabbed, or a high copper-content coin that will react with the environment. I'd definitely break out a common Athenian own, though -- it's a piece of history to hold, it's not reactive, and it already survived the last 2500 years just fine.

Make sure you look up how to properly crack slabs. You can find videos on YouTube.

I highly suggest maintaining any documentation, like the NGC label and purchase documentation, with the coin.

People can be pretty opinionated with respect to slabbing. I started out in EAC (early American coppers) and moved into medievals, so I'm in the what-the-heck-are-you-doing-encasing-that-in-plastic school. Collectors of modern high-grade or proof coins tend to feel the opposite, and I think they're justified. Just remember the cliche: buy the coin, not the slab. With ancients & medievals, qualitative or numerical grades rarely have meaning.

I have done it three times to fill three album holes.

For many, the slab offers a layer of confidence. That being said, I believe discussing the purchase here will provide many more layers of confidence.

Did it work?

You have it completely wrong. Those slabs do not protect coins. Look at the warranties that the companies selling the slabs include. No long warranty for copper or other reactive metals.
If you have a coin you must protect, take it out of the plastic box and protect it properly. The best and time tested method have been varnishes where corrosion is a problem. Only make sure you pick one that can be removed easily.