CAC Coin Grading - Certified Acceptance Corporation

Posted by Andrew Adamo on Nov 22nd 2024

CAC Coin Grading

At Bullion Shark, we believe that grading plays a crucial role in ensuring both the value and quality of rare coins. By relying on trusted grading services, coin collectors can feel confident in their acquisitions. That’s why we proudly offer coins graded by the industry’s top grading companies, including NGC, PCGS and CAC coin grading. These certifications ensure that every coin we sell meets the highest standards of authenticity and quality.

Today, we want to focus on the story of CAC and its exceptional grading service. Before CAC's establishment, the rare coin market often lacked clarity, with high-quality coins being lumped together with lesser counterparts within the same grade. In 2007, CAC was founded by leading numismatic experts to set a higher standard, distinguishing top-tier coins from the rest. Fast forward to 2022, CAC launched its own Grading Service, bringing their stringent standards and unparalleled expertise to every coin submitted.

At Bullion Shark, we take pride in offering CAC-graded coins as part of our commitment to providing collectors with the best coins in the market.

The Need for Higher Standards

In the world of numismatics, a coin’s grade should definitively reflect its quality. Unfortunately, inconsistencies often exist among coins certified with the same grade, creating confusion and undermining trust in the market. These discrepancies can significantly impact a coin’s value, as prices for exceptional-quality coins become tied to those of their lower-quality counterparts, ultimately suppressing the entire market.

This lack of clarity erodes confidence in certified coins. How can coin collectors know if a coin truly stands out for its grade?

That’s where CAC steps in. By establishing and upholding stricter standards, CAC ensures that exceptional coins are recognized for their true value, restoring trust and transparency in the numismatic market.

Setting the Standard for Quality

In 2007, John Albanese joined forces with twenty-two leading experts in the numismatic community to establish the Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC). Their mission was clear: to advocate for collectors and hobbyists by introducing an exceptionally stringent standard for grading. Acting as a verifier for previously certified coins, CAC awards its coveted sticker only to coins that meet the highest quality benchmarks. Remarkably, less than half of all coins submitted to CAC earn this prestigious distinction.

Since its inception, the CAC sticker has become universally recognized as the gold standard for certified coins. It serves as an unmistakable marker of excellence, instantly identifying coins that are truly premium for their grade. At Bullion Shark, we take pride in offering CAC-graded coins, knowing they represent the pinnacle of quality and value in the rare coin market.

Setting the Standard for Accuracy and Consistency

In 2022, CAC expanded its mission by applying its renowned stringent standards to a full grading service. With a team of over 150 leading numismatic experts, CAC aimed to restore accuracy and consistency to the grading process. Why stop at appraising and evaluating previously certified coins through their Stickering service when the same high standards could redefine the grading industry itself?

With industry legends like John Albanese, Ron Drzewucki, and John Butler at the helm, CAC boasts the most accomplished grading team in numismatics. Their commitment to excellence ensures that every submitted coin is graded with unmatched precision and expertise. Collectors, hobbyists, and dealers alike can trust that a CAC-graded coin represents the pinnacle of quality, offering total confidence in their acquisitions. At Bullion Shark, we’re proud to provide coins graded by CAC, knowing they exemplify the highest standards in the market.

The Impact of CAC Grading on the Market

Just as the CAC sticker revolutionized trust in numismatics, CAC Grading is transforming the market by instilling unparalleled confidence among coin collectors. The significance of this service reverberates across the numismatic community, with many of today’s most dedicated collectors submitting entire sets of previously graded coins for CAC certification. One standout example is a collection of over 10,000 coins, surpassing even the legendary Eliasberg Collection in quality.

This remarkable level of trust underscores the enduring reputation of the CAC brand and its stringent quality standards. For collectors, whether seasoned experts or enthusiastic newcomers, CAC Grading offers the ultimate assurance of a coin’s value and authenticity. At Bullion Shark, we’re proud to feature CAC-certified coins, knowing they represent the very best in the industry.

Why Do CAC Coins Bring a Premium?

Quality coins have always commanded a premium, and CAC makes it easy to identify these top-tier pieces. It’s well-established that coins with the CAC sticker consistently bring a premium in the rare coin market. Why is that? The answer is straightforward: the quality of a coin directly determines its value, and the CAC sticker serves as a clear marker of a coin’s superior quality for its grade.

As a grading service, CAC maintains the same rigorous standards for quality, accuracy, and consistency in its grading process that it applies to its Stickering service. The difference now is that a CAC-graded coin represents an authentic, true reflection of the coin's grade, giving collectors absolute confidence in its quality. As a result, CAC-certified coins continue to fetch higher premiums in the marketplace. At Bullion Shark, we proudly offer CAC-certified coins, knowing they represent the best of the best in numismatics.

CAC's Milestone Timeline

2007

CAC was founded by John Albanese, who partnered with twenty-two influential figures in the numismatic community to establish stringent standards for verifying previously certified coins, all in the name of advocating for hobbyists.

2011

In its early years, CAC significantly boosted confidence in the rare coin market by setting a higher standard for graded coins.

In just four years, CAC:

Examined over 300,000 coins valued at $1.5 billion
Purchased over $225 million worth of coins

2012

CAC revolutionized the market and saw impressive growth during its first five years:

Examined over 400,000 coins valued at $1.8 billion
Purchased over $275 million worth of coins

2017

In its tenth year, CAC cemented its position as the universally recognized mark of quality in numismatics:

Evaluated over 1.2 million coins
Built a team of four expert graders
Became the premier market maker for its stickered coins
CAC coins began commanding a premium in the market

2020

To further enhance market confidence, CAC introduced a comprehensive Independent Market Value Guide, listing current prices for all CAC-stickered coins:

Examined over 1.3 million coins valued at $1.8 billion
Purchased nearly $650 million worth of coins

2021

By this time, it was well-documented that CAC-stickered coins consistently brought a premium in live auctions, shows, and online sales. Why? Because they were placed only on quality coins:

Evaluated over 1.4 million coins
Purchased nearly $700 million worth of coins
Over 2,550 CAC members

2022

A major milestone occurred when more than 150 leading numismatic professionals, under the leadership of John Albanese and Ron Drzewucki, formed a new grading firm: CAC Grading. Bolstered by a team of world-class graders, CAC Grading’s commitment is to apply the same exacting standards and unmatched expertise to every submitted coin.

At Bullion Shark, we proudly offer coins graded by CAC, knowing they represent the highest standards in the numismatic world.

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