This Draped Bust half is CAC but doesn't have a sticker. I had no idea about that until I registered in the Registry and it came up as a CAC coin. Sure enough, it's in the CAC database.
I have quite a few of them, although I don't go out of my way to buy them, and I am anything but a CAC cheerleader. Here are a few: Eagleeye liked this one too.
The real impetus for CAC was the loose grading on gold coins, esp. Saints, where you had coins clearly overgraded by 1-2 grades. You needed something to identify the "C" coins from the "B" (OK for the grade) and "A" coins (strong for the grade). I think the fear is that now ANY coin that doesn't sticker is a "C" coin but that isn't necessarily so.
Sometimes CAC is a wrong. I have a file full of their goofs. Some people treat Albanese like he's the "Pope of numismatics," infaulable. He isn't. He's an expert, but he's also human. There are also matters of opinion. He also does not apply all of the stickers, but the CAC fans will never admit that.
Same, although I only have two of them. I don't care whose slab it's in or what sticker is on it, I only look at the coin. This one I got because I needed the Type 2 reverse, and because it's likely the coin mentioned by McCloskey in his 1980 Coin World article where he discovered that there were two obverse and reverse hub types - something I've focused on. I thought it would be awesome to have one of his discovery coins. This one I purchased on Heritage to have a gem example of the 1900-S Type 1 reverse anomaly. The funny thing is, a 1900-S in NGC MS65, no CAC, sold that very same day on GC for 15% more than this one. So much for the PCGS + CAC premium! To me it's all marketing BS.
MS-63 CACs for 1898-S Liberty Head DE and 1923 Saint-Gaudens. I've posted them before; I got them earlier this year at FUN 2026. I never noticed the luster as much on my previous gold or Saint purchases. Aas I've said before, I still have both coins on my desk inches away from a Green Bankers Light which reflects light on them, highlighting the features, strike, and luster.
I agree with what you said. Now having said that can you clarify what you calling goofs? Over graded coins with green beans is my suspicion. I have seen some that I do not think deserve a green bean because I think over graded - and sometimes I just think a green bean coin is bugly(maybe graded correctly). Now I have I do not know how many cac coins - these are just a few. Not all make the type set. Sometimes I just have to pick the one I like best. I do not seek them out as some else mentioned but when all of these popped up I jumped on them.
All are dream coins for the likes o' me, but I particularly like the look of the 1803/2 half-eagle. I'll never own one, let alone a run of 'em like that! Wow.
