Coin Grading History - Understanding CAC & CACG 

Hey Ben. I sure hope JA watched this video because if he did, he would certainly give it a gold bean. That was the best short history of grading and CAC I’ve ever witnessed.

Hi Ben. The grading companies are very consistent. They always over-grade coins I want to buy, and under-grade coins I want to sell.

CAC was the biggest curve after learning grading, and I think in general its the largest hurdle beginners have to overcome. I think this will come in handy to a lot of newer collectors.

Really enjoyed catching up on JA's interviews recently. Solid guy, super likable and honest as the day is long. For those new, he helped start PCGS, NGC, CAC (his deal entirely) and now CAC grading. I expect another great success story though must admit not terribly excited about their holder. To me it needs to be as special as the company is.

I just heard that CAC opened up for sticker submissions again. Back before they shut that down last year, the price for the non-pricey coins were $16, and they didn’t charge you if it didn’t sticker. Now, I understand the fee will be $22 for the economy coins, and there’ll be a 25% discount if it doesn’t sticker. That makes a lot more sense to me, since you could send them just about anything and there was no penalty for wasting their time. For me, for now, I think I’ll keep the coins I have that are stickered in their original holders. I feel they’ll be worth more with the green bean than in the new CACG holder with the L serial number.

Guessing most will prefer to keep their legacy holders intact, proudly displaying the bean. Also, if the coin is in a stickered PCGS holder we'll know both PCGS AND CAC liked the coin at grade level. "Two thumbs up" you might say. If it's only in a CAC holder, we'll know only CAC liked it.

Very good explanation, Ben. Thanks mate.

I don’t know, outside of authentication, it all gets pretty sketchy to me.

Awesome video Ben!!!

Awesome video! The only thing that I am frustrated with when it comes to CAC grading, on their population report page under dollar coins... it goes from Eisenhower, skips SBA, right to Sacagawea to present... I understand SBAs have little interest to people, but geez, CAC grading doesn't have to pretend like they don't exist!

Thanks for the video!

Great insight Ben! Thank you!

Doesn’t the legacy designation make the crossover to CACG easier for the company? They really do not have to regrade the coin because it has already been graded by CAC. See the “green bean” there is your grade.

Great info Ben thanks...

Useful content as always👍

This is very helpful to a new collector like myself. Thank you

Superb picture of this section of the market.

Thank you.

Thanks!

Well, I was all excited about sending some Morgan dollars to CAC Grading, but come to find out that they won't take coins from the public and they only take coins from their nepotistic dealer network. So, CAC is also not accepting new dealers. I contacted CAC and the representative said the only way to get my coins graded by CAC would be to have a dealer in their dealer network send it in for me. Ok, but there are no coin dealers who are in the fabled CAC dealer network within 4 hour's drive from my location. I responded to the CAC rep that if they are in the CAC dealer network, why can't I send my coins to CAC and then they can send my coins to CAC Grading on my behalf? I got no reply, meaning that I will never send any coins to CAC Grading ever and decided to never buy a coin in a CAC holder. What a corrupt, junk company!

How long will cac still sticker coins? Is there a deadline when they will quit? I have some coins I wouldn't mind submitting but don't know any affiliated dealers.

Ben - thanks for all you do. Stickers really helped identify strong coins for the grade. How do you think a PCGS MS 65 CAC will price vs a CAC MS 65? Doesn’t it feel like the PCGS will be more desired because it identifies a solid ms 65 vs the CAC 65, which could be on the lower end?

Cool beans Ben 🤓

Its all about acquisition. Hes already started two grading companies that have been acquired. They know this game. Build up a huge following and make the numbers good then sell to the highest bidder.

Graded coins to some extent combine numismatics and exonumia. I have a few CAC stickered coins but...I've been actively persuaded *AGAINST* buying certain CAC stickered coins that I would otherwise want to cross or reholder into a Gold Shield PCGS holder. A CAC'd non-Gold Shield example loses the ability to resubmit and get the True View images, which IMO is the single most overlooked component of PCGS's registry stranglehold. It's a terribly stupid way to look at things from a traditional numismatics viewpoint but it's simply not cost effective for a registry collector.

it still goes back to 'opinions' .....everybody ;s got one

I guess it all makes sense, though I’m still going to crack out all coins I buy and put those coins in my albums.

If I had a coin in a PCGS or NGC Slab with CAC sticker on it, Of what benefit is it to me to pay for a replacement Slab from CAC? Seems like they could make a very nice amount doing these conversions. But again why would I as a collector want to spend more money on my coin? This is not going to increase the value to the point where it would be worth it.

Do you have an opinion on auction companies that claim uncirculated coins that haven't been graded? Invaluable is a platform for many coin sellers use who usually overstate value and grade, but not always.

Is there going to be a ++ grade added and a - grade added as well. Example I send in a Morgan and could it come back a 65+, 65++, or a 65-? I was hoping they would also do a 65@66 which would also be a great way to help the hobby. Say a morgan is a 65 but 60% nicer than a 65 they could do a ++ but if it 75% nicer than a 65 they could do a 65@66. Now if that same coin is a 65 but just barely like 90% a 65 would they do a -65? Im just thinking out loud. Between the stickers and the plus graded we really want to nail this down so we can be as accurate as possible. Also if a coin is 95% 65-66 would they do a 65$$ grade and then put a sticker on the slab with a color I choose myself. I like purple so could I have a 65++$$ with a purple sticker? They would need to figure out the shape of the sticker though. I might not like the shape so then you could count me out on that one. Im just trying to simplify the whole grading process. Would the sticker be extra depending on the color? I think they should also have a two page booklet for each coin submitted so we understand whats going on. They might need to tweek things a little just to get the bugs out. They could use those little circles that you fill in like on the old tests at school. That would make submitting faster. When I was in school I used to just guess and fill any circle in hoping I got the right one. No difference here. I think what I am suggesting might just work. But then again I am a clown. 😂

MJ, never lost a Finals, never even went to a 7th game 6/6,plus MJ was an assassin, he made sure the opponent lost. All others since have tried but failed to live up to his standard.

It's JORDAN!!!

If you have a ngc graded 64 with a gold bean why wouldn’t cacg grade the coin 65 because cac said it was better than 64

Just another 3rd Party Grader, Albeit John Albanese has been around for a long time, folks place too much emphasis on getting Everything 3rd party graded, As someone that has been a part of the collecting community since 1965, I agree with Jack Beymer that Buffalo Nickels are grade-flated, and I believe Morgan$$$, & Indian Head Cents are grade-flated as well; all the XF-45 Morgans purchased before 1990 have breast feathers showing except for many New Orleans Minted Coins! Rant Over!

Once mid-July hits, CACG will automatically have the 4 place position in grading companies. PCGS, NGC, ANACS, then CACG.

grading is subjective and those stickers have proven to be subjective. Unless your coin is super valuable, I doubt there is much real value added. The added value is mostly because people perceive the coin to have more value because of the sticker. To me it is no different than certain Pokemon cards commanding more money. They are just paper mas produced in Japan and have no real value.

Collecting slabs is really more fun than collecting coins.

*FIRST*