I have done a few submissions to CAC. Here are the coins they CAC'd: http://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/22570/1927-Saint-Gaudens-Double-Eagle-NGC-MS-64-CAC http://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/20018/1916-Walking-Liberty-Half-Dollar-NGC-MS-63-CAC It seems to me that the criteria for the CAC sticker are that the coin is a no-problem piece, PQ, etc.. My guess is that if there is any question, they will not CAC it. Any other thoughts?
Any thoughts on chances on this one getting a CAC sticker? http://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/26298/1856-S-Liberty-Double-Eagle-PCGS-XF-45
Not sure about the coin posted, but for XF it sure seems to have some heavy marks. I do know - just because it has a CAC sticker does not make it a choice coin. I have seen a few that I thought had carbon spots(or spots on them) that I would have thought limited the grade. Not many CAC coins, but a few I question. Just my humble opinion.
Thanks for the feedback. It probably is not worth spending the $10 to find out next time I send them some coins. Here is PCGS' photograde standard: http://www.pcgs.com/Photograde/#/20Lib/Grades I have seen a lot of worse coins in XF45 holders and some better. I have seen heavily bagged marked MS60 gold coins that fit the MS definition though close to being "damaged" coins. I have taken MS61 $20s to a coin club, where members have been unusually harsh, questioning how the coin could have graded so high, etc.. Well, their standards are online, and you can look at dozens of comparable coins at auction sites to compare.