CAC (green) or Photoseal - Which would you prefer on your Flying Eagle / Indian Head Cent?

oih82w8 · April 25, 2017 8:09AM

I am certain that this has been brought up before, if so, my apologies in advance. It is widely accepted that Rick Snow is a top Flying Eagle and Indian Cent subject matter expert and he has the PhotoSeal service which identifies quality coins that he has personally viewed "...have examined the coin and agree with the grading services opinion. It's a second opinion that carries extra benefit, because they can then be bought and sold at our market price." Whereas CAC throws a wider lasso with the range of coins they inspect with similar standards upon approval "Your coin has been verified as meeting the standard for strict quality within its grade".

My question is; which would you prefer on your Flying Eagle and Indian Cents TPG Holders?

Thank you for your interest and comments.

keets · April 25, 2017 8:16AM

CAC green.

1630Boston · April 25, 2017 8:17AM

Now a days, I think CAC is the path a lot of people are following JMO

Ablinky · April 25, 2017 8:20AM

I would be indifferent, but I feel the market leans toward CAC approval.

lusterlover · April 25, 2017 1:46PM

I am not an indian cent collector, but it's my understanding Rick is tougher on them with his sticker than CAC. Given that, I would want his sticker and I think most avid IC collectors would agree. What's wrong with getting both

BillJones · April 25, 2017 1:55PM

There is stronger chance the Photoseal will be a better coin than the CAC approved piece. I have never seen a Photoseal that I didn't like.

grip · April 25, 2017 2:11PM

CAC for me. That was easy:)

DIMEMAN · April 25, 2017 3:09PM

Photoseal.

ironmanl63 · April 25, 2017 3:39PM

Photoseal. I really trust Ricks opinion! If it is photosealed it is likely it will also get the bean.

3keepSECRETif2rDEAD · April 25, 2017 3:41PM

...If I collected FE or IH cents then I would buy the coins already PCGS-slabbed & Photoseal'ed...then send them myself to CAC...I know pretty much nothing about those series but the above seems like a recipe for success if I had to give it a go

Bochiman · April 25, 2017 3:42PM

Selling to a specialist? EagleEye
Selling in general to a collector who may just want the coin (type set, just the coin, etc)? CAC

More collectors know and (seemingly, except for some posters on these boards) understand CAC.
A lot less, unless they know Rick/IHCs/FEs, would know and understand the photoseal.

Bigbuck1975 · April 25, 2017 3:42PM

@ironmanl63 said:
Photoseal. I really trust Ricks opinion! If it is photosealed it is likely it will also get the bean.

I had a photosealed one that didn't CAC. Likely an anomaly but fact.

ironmanl63 · April 25, 2017 3:51PM

I have also had one photosealed indian cent that did not CAC. Have not tried to send it again. All others came back with the bean.

jcping · April 25, 2017 3:56PM

I will consider Photoseal first

Wabbit2313 · April 25, 2017 4:03PM

After that thread about acetone or MS-70 releasing the copper coins "hidden" color, the jury is no longer out, they went home.

SeattleSlammer · April 25, 2017 4:09PM

Any IHC on Rick's site without his seal should be sold at a large discount.

Gazes · April 25, 2017 6:40PM

My choice would be cac

Justacommeman · April 25, 2017 6:53PM

CAC but I had to think hard about it

mark

Moldnut · April 25, 2017 6:54PM

If I were a seller, I would probably say CAC. For my personal collection it is definitely Photoseal.

Lakesammman · April 25, 2017 6:59PM

There is a slight difference.

Let me say upfront that I trust Rick's judgment after having done over 1 mil in business with him over the years. I trust his honesty and integrity.

CAC stickers other peoples coins.
Rick stickers his inventory and other peoples coins.

If it was someone other than Rick that I didn't know and trust sticking their own inventory, I would favor CAC.
For FE/IHC cents, I prefer PS.

1630Boston · April 25, 2017 7:11PM

@Lakesammman
I think you have a very valid point...................among knowing serious collectors of certain coins.
But, for the general masses..................the advertising/hype may be more important.
JMO Nothing against any of these 'services', just thinking out loud

Lakesammman · April 25, 2017 7:18PM

But, for the general masses..................the advertising/hype may be more important.

Perhaps, but that would be a different thread than what was asked here.

1630Boston · April 25, 2017 7:23PM

I stand corrected @Lakesammman

jdimmick · April 25, 2017 7:28PM

PS although I have both stickers on my 56 flyer and 77 Indian. I also cracked a pcgs 64 77 for the dansco album I got and I believe it was cac'd. but not PS. (didn't matter as holder is gone now anyhow)

garrynot · April 26, 2017 3:07AM

I would choose the Photoseal.

ricko · April 26, 2017 4:21AM

For FE/IHC I would definitely want Photoseal.... Rick is the recognized authority in this arena..... Cheers, RickO

oih82w8 · April 26, 2017 10:34AM

It seems that from the responses so far, that PhotoSeal edges out CAC with those who gave a straight answer, selecting one over the other.

I am kinda surprised that no one mentioned fees...CAC ($13.50) only charges collectors (not dealers) if it does not meet their standard...PhotoSeal ($15) charges regardless of outcome. PhotoSeal coins do have a laminated color card, with Rick Snow's signature, and are imaged which can be retrieved from the PhotoSeal Lookup.

ironmanl63 · April 26, 2017 4:09PM

CAC does not charge collectors if they're coin does not bean. Rick also does not charge you unless he photo seals the coin.

Bochiman · April 26, 2017 4:34PM

@oih82w8 said:
It seems that from the responses so far, that PhotoSeal edges out CAC with those who gave a straight answer, selecting one over the other.

I am kinda surprised that no one mentioned fees...CAC ($13.50) only charges collectors (not dealers) if it does not meet their standard...PhotoSeal ($15) charges regardless of outcome. PhotoSeal coins do have a laminated color card, with Rick Snow's signature, and are imaged which can be retrieved from the PhotoSeal Lookup.

You have it backwards.....CAC only charges DEALERS, not collectors, if the coin doesn't sticker. Collectors only pay for coins that meet the standards.

BryceM · April 26, 2017 4:40PM

How about both?

yosclimber · April 26, 2017 4:54PM

Here is the pretty much identical thread from 2014 (mentioned by the OP), which includes Rick's comments:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/916987/if-you-had-indican-cent-would-you-rather-have-a-photo-seal-or-cac

1630Boston · April 26, 2017 6:05PM

Yes, what about the** PCGS/CAC/Photo Seal**Combination, let's talk about that.

SoCalBigMark · April 26, 2017 6:07PM

Only copper collectors opinions should have weight here. Have you sent copper to cac? Have you purchased photoseal coins?

Unknown · April 26, 2017 6:10PM

This content has been removed.

1630Boston · April 26, 2017 6:11PM

@SoCalBigMark
I'm not sure that I agree with you,** but rest assured** I will not click the "disagree button"
I think sometimes in life, people outside of an issue can gather and submit valid info.
JMO

Desert Moon · April 26, 2017 6:21PM

I have had IC's with both, but PS for me any day of the week. Rick is the specialist and he backs the coins he puts his sticker on.

MICHAELDIXON · April 26, 2017 6:45PM

Myself, like some others believe it is what type of collector you are. If you are a serious FE/IH cent collector, you would want the Photoseal. If you are a general collector, you would want CAC. I personally want a Photoseal on my FE/IH cent.

cameonut2011 · April 26, 2017 6:45PM

Photoseal, and it isn't even close for me. Specialists in the field will definitely recognize the premium quality associated with photosealed coins.

roadrunner · April 26, 2017 6:51PM

CAC for me. In any case, I can decide if I like the coin regardless of who's sticker is on it.

oih82w8 · April 26, 2017 8:36PM

I reread my comment and corrected it...thanks Bochiman.

@ironmanl63 said:
CAC does not charge collectors if they're coin does not bean. Rick also does not charge you unless he photo seals the coin.

Thanks ironmanl63, I did not know this.

Lakesammman · April 26, 2017 8:41PM

Now, if you're really into collecting historical plastic, you'll need to collect the PS cards with the signatures of both Rick Snow and Brian Wagner.

lkeigwin · April 26, 2017 8:43PM

Photoseal. When it comes to IHC's I trust Rick's opinion over JA's.
Lance.

cardinal · April 26, 2017 9:47PM

I recall reading that JA himself accepts the Photoseal as if the coin was already CAC green stickered.

Rick has considerably more experience with copper coins than JA, as he recognizes the nuances created by different die varieties. The Lord St. Oswald-Naftzger-Husak-Cardinal 1794 S-67 Large Cent, graded by PCGS as MS67RB and uniformly considered the single finest Liberty Cap cent, was rejected by JA because he didn't like the defects on Liberty's cheek. Sadly, those defects were in the die itself, and ALL examples of that die variety feature those mint-produced raised artifacts on the cheek. Having never reviewed any of the reference books on early copper, JA mistook them for nicks on the surface of the coin.

oih82w8 · April 27, 2017 5:57AM

I can certainly agree that being specialized in a particular field of study would make one a more sought after opinion.

grip · April 27, 2017 6:07AM

@MICHAELDIXON said:
Myself, like some others believe it is what type of collector you are. If you are a serious FE/IH cent collector, you would want the Photoseal. If you are a general collector, you would want CAC. I personally want a Photoseal on my FE/IH cent.

Bingo!

oih82w8 · April 27, 2017 6:22AM

@yosclimber said:
Here is the pretty much identical thread from 2014 (mentioned by the OP), which includes Rick's comments:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/916987/if-you-had-indican-cent-would-you-rather-have-a-photo-seal-or-cac

Nice reference thread.

CAC (green) or Photoseal - Which would you prefer on your Flying Eagle / Indian Head Cent?

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