What is a CAC Gold really worth?

CommemKing

I recently was fortunate to get 2 gold CAC stickers on my first submission. They are both MS65 Booker T. Washington Commems. I did a ebay search on "CAC gold" and was very surprised to see how few CAC golds are for sale. Are they really that rare? And what does it really mean? Does it mean that they should be graded a whole grade higher? Half a grade? Or is it something else?

Here are my 2 CAC gold coins. Like I said they are both MS65. Normally these coins wont bring $100 in this condition, but considering the grade, the fabulous tone, and the gold CAC, what on earth could they expect to bring at auction. Both of the coins look to be MS66ish, but are they worth more than that? I'm not looking to sell, but I'm always curious. Can someone please shed some light on this somewhat mysterious CAC gold question?

oih82w8

I would say that they are pretty rare, but it depends on the Era of holders too. Early holdered versions appear to be more conservative in grade and net quite a few gold beans, more so than recent holders.

CommemKing

I saw doing some searching and found this interesting article from Coin World.

https://coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2013/01/mysterious-cac-gold-stickers.all.html

Broadstruck

Last I heard $14.50

lusterlover

My understanding is gold means at least 1 grade higher (could be more). I think the gold sticker rate is around 1-2%, so there aren't many. Worth is subjective but there are people that collect slabs with gold beans. Nice coins BTW.

blitzdude

If they don't sticker collectors will stop sending them in. First we had gradeflation now we have gradeflation + stickerflation.

As another poster mentioned I think they cost about $14.50.

I personally wouldn't give over greysheet bid for the slab grade but apparently there are a few that would.

Edit: PS The top one does look like a nice 65 to me, can't really tell from images on the 2nd. Both are nice no doubt, I don't like tone but that's a whole other story. I would have dipped before slabbing. Get those puppies nice and blast white.

ACop

I would have dipped before slabbing. Get those puppies nice and blast white.

How boring.

Wabbit2313

The Gold means at one grade up it would also get a sticker. John told me once that he has seen coins that would Gold the next grade up. That could mean big money, or nothing really, if you are talking about a common Mercury Dime.

Wabbit2313

On your coins, the first one would certainly bring a premium even over MS66 money. The second coin, unless the image is bad, does not seem to have nice color, and far less premium.

CommemKing

The second photo is a scan from PCGS Europe. The coin actually looks better than the blue toned one. It’s a true gem with beautiful gold and orange tones. Take my word for it.

DollarAfterDollar

As was discussed, 1% or less get a gold bean. The coins that are in older generation holders (PCGS or NGC) have a greater chance simply because they came from a conservative era. Today's golds come from a grading room too rushed to do the job correctly.

In my opinion a gold is worth about double what the coin might otherwise bring UNLESS it has terrific color. If it has terrific color the moon's the limit in a well presented auction.

I've been to auctions where attendee's don't know what a bean is......

david3142

Gold beans almost always bring at least the money for the next grade up and at that point it's really about the coin. If you have a 65 with a gold sticker, it will bring around 66+ money if it looks like a 66+ and potentially 67 money if it looks like a 67 (and the spread isn't too great).

BuffaloIronTail

What would be better? A slab with a Gold Bean or a reholder of that slab at one grade up?

Guess it does depend on the coin involved.

Never mind!

Pete

drddm

I won this coin in an auction many years ago as a PCGS MS62. I got it upgraded on a resubmission in its holder to 63 a short while later....then, many years later submitted it to CAC where it got a gold sticker. I guess this would be a coin that Wabbit was referring to would have gold stickered as a 62 and apparently one grade higher as well. I’ve always been curious what this coin would bring at auction with the gold sticker, and if it’s really a 64 or 65.

Dave

CommemKing

That’s quite a coin.