Lately, I've been having to fabricate hooks and small pins from paper clips, and all I bought last time was the colorful rubber coated ones. So, it had to come off. I used an older Ranger's cap lifter, which has the ground edge. I did use the notch yesterday to remove a staple, by straightening one of the bent over legs so it could be pulled out.
I'd say it could remove very small nails (i.e. model railroad track nails, cigar boxes) without issue.