I REALLY wanted to get an I'm still here coin but in the end the only coin that fit my collection was an 1841 Seated Quarter in PCGS-VG 8 with a CAC sticker. I have all but ignored the CAC issue because my collection is all circulated and lower priced. Just so I have it straight though, the story is that the coin is supposed to be choice for the grade but everyone pays like it is the next grade. Correct? James
A CAC sticker is supposed to represent a coin that is A or B for the grade. C coins the ones that barely made the grade would not be given the sticker. However, in the craze for a cac sticker many coins were bid higher than their supposed value. Even to grades much higher depending on the eye appeal.
I would depend more upon your own grading skills and your tastes as to what is an attractive coin than becoming a slave to CAC. CAC is mostly for Mint State, high priced material. I might be wrong, buy my perception is that heavily circulated coins, in grades like VG-8, are quite unusual. Given the costs of shipping these days, and hurdles CAC puts in front of getting coins submitted, make the circulated coin with a CAC sticker unusual.
Don't ascribe to the pricing nonsense with CAC coins. The paid advertising you see for CAC coins setting record prices at auction are invariably accurate because one is unlikely to make such a claim without the results to point to. It's what is not said that is more important to consider: That, just like in the stock market, there are winners which outperform and receive all of the attention, and losers which no one talks about. I can't recall anyone telling me stories about stocks for which they paid too much that subsequently lost them money, or about CAC coins doing the same. Do not buy the label . . . buy the coin. According to CAC, their stated mission is to identify and green-sticker coins in the B and A bands for the assigned grade, and to not sticker coins in the C band. I also understand that the same criteria apply to CAC Graded coins. As far as I know, that mission has never changed. CAC Gold-stickered coins are an entirely different animal. Pricing for such coins is a bit out-of-control. The reason is because CAC Gold-stickered coins in AU58 holders can justifiably hop several grades and bring much higher prices. Naturally, this created quite a following and drove much higher prices for them. The issue is that in other grades, the Gold-stickered coins are not likely to jump more than a single grade, yet the mindset of buyers apparently stuck because ridicuous premiums are often seen attached to Gold-stickered coins which might jump only a little in the next grade or two. Again, do not buy the label . . . buy the coin. Finally, there are lots of coins which have not been submitted for CAC stickers or CAC grading, so don't feel like a coin you're buying is some sort of misfit. If you spend the time studying grading standards, and learning what quality is, you'll do just fine leaning on your own skills, and not someone else's.
The CAC sticker was of little importance to me. Although, I will be very interested to SEE what a CAC coin is suppose to look like. I have ignored CAC coins, except to look at a picture now and then. As someone said CAC is more of a high grade/price animal. However, I have always said I prefer great variety in my coin collections so guess I will learn something new for less than $200. James
They bidding the CAC material way up. Expect some serious bid competition. The few CAC I have (all CACG) had to really pay the money. Really like the green bean on the holder. Want get some more. It’s an individual investor choice. Like a high end car with some upgrade modifications / respray, transmission upgrade, sport brakes, engine tunes, competition suspension, high end wheels, custom interior, take your pick. Have fun bidding / shopping around for them.
