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What does an AU58 with Gold CAC sticker mean?
ColoradoCoinGuy
Posts: 173 ✭✭✭
A recent thread, "Please post a nice AU58 grade coin" had a coin with a Gold CAC sticker. Exactly what does that mean? Does CAC think it does not have any wear and is really an Mint State Coin. If so, do they think it is one grade higher - MS60? (Hope not) Or are they market grading it and think it is worth more than AU58 money? But then where is it on the price scale? MS61, MS62, MS63, higher? Leaves a lot of room for guessing.
Thoughts.
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It means that CAC thinks it's undergraded by at least a full grade. No more, no less.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Usually an AU58 coin w/ no actual wear and a gold CAC sticker is probably a misgraded coin (in CAC's eyes) and could regrade MS63 or higher.
Generally, MS60-62 are ugly or otherwise impaired coins that if they had a small touch of wear they would not likely grade AU58... they'd probably be in AU55 or AU53 holders instead.
That's my experience with it at least...
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
Mint State something.
Just like with any other gold CAC sticker, they believe the coin to be undergraded.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I have a large cent in pcgs 55 cac gold that would regrade 62
It means that someone paid far more than what he could he could have paid if he got one not having a gold sticker. The only place I've seen major grading question marks is dealing with open collar coins. Capped Bust Halves come to mind.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Means you should be able to get an AU58+ out of it, which I have seen sell for more than a MS65.
I believe I posted the coin in question, an 1883 Hawaii 10c in PCGS AU58/Gold CAC that I purchased from @CoinRaritiesOnline last year. I've had a few people look at this dime at shows, and no one is quite sure why PCGS graded it AU58. MS63 seems more in line with the way it looks in hand. Let's call it AU63...
As far as paying too much, @Elcontador, I didn't pay MS63 money for something that looks it, so I'm good.
Actually there were a few. There was also an 1872 1/2 dime.
Life member of ANA
That dime doesn't suck.
I bet you could use your magic to make that coin really beautiful.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Since CAC doesn’t recognize plus grades, an AU58 coin that receives a gold sticker indicates CAC believes that the coin grades a solid MS60, at a minimum. And since the MS60 grade is rarely applied, there’s a good chance CAC believes that the coin grades 61 or higher.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
No way; I'd leave THAT one just as is.
Good info!
You get a nice "Flapper" with those gold stickers!
It means it's worth more to the cacs collectors then if the coin straight graded a 63. A true 58 but got the cacs (which is somehow interpreted that JA thinks its a 60) is worth more than a true 63 that JA thinks is a 63 with no sticker. It's like a beanie baby that's missing the tag. It's Whacked!
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
Here’s one of mine. I believe that if resubmitted for regrade at PCGS this coin may grade either 62 or 63.
Dave
From those we've handled, they look MS-61/MS-62. MS-60 isn't really a grade given out these days.
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GreatCollections Coin Auctions - Certified Coin Auctions Every Week - Rare Coins & Coin Values
That coin (Hawaii 10c) should grade at least MS64,,,,,,
To expand upon what I wrote previously, I once purchased a Barber half dollar in an ancient PCGS AU58 OGH that later received a gold CAC sticker.
In this instance, I had seen the coin face down in a dealer's case at a major show and assumed it was already sold, but asked to see it anyway. As the dealer took it out he mentioned it wasn't for sale at the show because he just picked it out of a group and was going to list it on his website after he got home. My initial thought from only seeing the reverse was that it was a slam-dunk MS coin and then I was surprised to see the AU58 grade.
The obverse looked MS too, but neither side was flashy. Both sides had satiny luster over fields largely devoid of hits and without any hairlines. The coin had what looked like, for lack of a better descriptor, a fine layer of adhered dirt on everything that made it a soft off-white. I thought it was really attractive and he sold it to me for AU money.
I submitted it to CAC and expected to receive a gold sticker because the coin really looked MS. JA mentioned to me that the coin received a gold sticker and told me that, in his opinion at that time, the coin would likely grade again as an MS62, but that if someone dipped it then it might pop the luster and grade MS63. I told him it wouldn't be dipped.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
The pictures of that Hawaii dime make it look like a proof to me.
Hmm... hadn’t even considered that.
After taking a look at TrueViews of both MS and PR examples, I don’t think so... great strike for sure, but rims aren’t as squared off on mine as I’d expect on a proof.
It means it will be very expensive.
I like this gal
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
It means that the titans of grading have a difference of opinion...
Cheers, RickO
Gold CAC stickers are a way of making us feel like we didn't get screwed by paying too much
If the grade doesn't fit..... ( where have I read this before ? )
I would say a slab with a gold CAC sticker means John Albanese thinks the coin is pretty damn nice.
AU58 with gold cac? I would definitely leave the slabbed coin as is. There is no upside in trying to get a better grade, just more expense.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein
As a small time collector it means you have a great coin, best in class. Probably an MS63 (or higher coin) with the smallest amount of perceivable rub. Although I agree a gold CAC on an MS 63 probably means 64 or better, or on an VF35 probably XF, I wouldn't equate an AU58 gold CAC to any MS grade if PCGS graded it AU. An MS67 with the slightest rub to me is technically still an AU58 coin, even though nicer than any MS 60-63 coin, and worth paying more for. Just IMHO.
I have seen a few coins in PCGS holders graded ms 62 that I felt were AU as I could definitely
see rub .
I think it is better to leave a coin in an AU 58 holder with a gold CAC sticker than resubmit the coin to grade AU 62 😎
It means that CAC thinks it's undergraded by at least a full grade.
can someone post a link where this is stated by CAC or John Albanese?? thanks.
From a 2013 Coin World article:
“ What kind of coin gets a CAC gold sticker? CAC founder John Albanese describes it as a coin that could “easily green sticker at the next highest grade level.”
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Conversely, I always wondered what a CAC sticker on a lowball coin meant and why people got them. I think if I was building a lowball set I would want to have sent in my P 01 to CAC and then for my coin image have a copy of the results showing it was evaluated as being not worthy of a sticker. Imagine putting your Cert number into CAC, seeing it got Gold, and cursing “how could they think it was that good?!?!”
AU63!
Gonna get me a $50 Octagonal someday. Some. Day.
From a 2013 Coin World article:
“ What kind of coin gets a CAC gold sticker? CAC founder John Albanese describes it as a coin that could “easily green sticker at the next highest grade level."
this has been asked many, many times here and discussed ad nauseum with, really, no solid answer. I would ask a very simple question: wouldn't it be logical to make this information crystal clear at the CAC website?? I actually just wasted five minutes of my life searching the CAC website, unless I missed it there is no explanation. the closest that is stated is:
--- Your coin has been verified as meeting the standard for strict quality within its grade.
further, at the entire site there isn't even a Gold Sticker pictured, again, unless I missed it. that there is confusion about what the stickers actually mean cannot be denied. why does CAC seem to insist in sowing doubt?? why can't they just be transparent at their website and stated clearly what the stickers actually represent??
a statement during an interview is helpful, but I don't think it's a good way to explain things. absent the article a collector doesn't know that information.
I found quite a bit of info on their website looking at FAQ in about 2 minutes. As for transparency, i know of few companies whose top guy will make himself available if i have a question. JA has done that for me on several occasions.
I'll check the FAQ section, I didn't even see it.
OK, I read through the "FAQ" section and see no mention of Gold Stickers, only A-B-C coins being the closest they come to an explanation. it did, however, take me about three minutes!!
CAC evaluates (more of its focus on) the coin, not the holder grade? (although the grade plays a factor in sticker assignment). Whether AU58 or MS, in either case the coin is considered quality no matter what the holder says. In view of this, I wonder if it is appropriate to extrapolate the idea that the grade should change with that CAC evaluation (although the grade would likely change for the better if resubmitted or reconsidered with a gold CAC sticker). In other words, CAC sticker and 3rd party grade are two different things and shouldn't be mixed in how the joined coin and holder are characterized. This is my opinion. If you have a 58 Gold CAC sticker, be thankful how you are blessed with that combination stating you may have the best 58 out there. That gold 58 will be better, and more valuable, than many MS coins.
A Barber Quartet is made up of Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Halves.