CACG vs PCGS + Green CAC Sticker
cinque1543
Posts: 340 ✭✭✭
I guess this is a slab question, not a coin question. Suppose there are two nearly identical coins, both graded as MS65. One is in a CACG slab. The other is in a PCGS slab with a green CAC sticker.
Do collectors tend to have a preference for the coin in the PCGS slab with the green CAC sticker, simply because the grade was confirmed by two different grading firms?
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The most desirable combination today is PCGS/CAC. Whether it’s the PCGS registry set, people’s perceptions, or other factors people prefer that combination.
One of the main reasons that presently, a PCGS/CAC coin will tend to be preferred over a CACG one is the fact that the former represents opinions from two different companies, rather than one.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
+1
I know I prefer PCGS/CAC over CACG by far.
Edited to add: I do not own a single CACG coin and have no desire to
PCGS/CAC all the way. Best of both worlds. You can also participate in three registries instead of just one. I don’t even own a single CACG coin other than the sample slab that I got at the ANA.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
While many do prefer PCGS/CAC, I'm also fine with NGC/CAC. The reason I'd stay with either of those is that CACG will slab many coins that would not get a sticker. They're slabbing details coins (so noted). They're slabbing "C" coins that would not sticker at grade. So, there's no guarantee that a coin in a CACG MS64 (for example) holder would get a sticker in an MS64 holder from PCGS or NGC. Or are they downgrading the "C" coins?
Collector of Liberty Seated Half Dimes, including die pairs and die states
Interesting. Let me make sure I understand this. If I send an MS64 PCGS-slabbed to CACG, they might not put a green sticker on it, even though they might have graded it at MS64 and put it in a CACG slab if I had sent them the raw coin?
CACG vs Stickered coins:
I prefer CACG. Demand for them has been high. A stickered coin may be ok for me but if it has tarnished over time, pvc, black spots, gone bad in the holder, for sure a no go for me. I try to check the original cert photo to see any differences between then (when it was graded) and now.
I don’t have a problem buying PCGS CAC or NGC CAC as long as they pass my criteria and of course the deal is right.
In theory, they are downgrading the "C" coins in one grade into "A" coins in the grade lower. Of course, within a given grade there is still a distribution of quality, but the new "C" coins should be equivalent to the lower end of the old "B" coins.
In practice, none of these letter comparisons are actually occurring in the grading room, but they display themselves directionally in the form of CACG's stricter grading standards (real or perceived).
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Apparently, you don’t understand it. There’s no CACG “might not put a green sticker on it…” - they definitely won’t, because they don’t sticker coins.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Typo, I think. I think "CAC" was meant in that first part.
Collector of Liberty Seated Half Dimes, including die pairs and die states
Interesting that this has never been discussed before.
@cinque1543 this is the PCGS forum, dominated by kool-aid gulpers and PCGS authorized dealers, do you think those factors might skew the answers? You might get a totally different set of answers if you asked a non partisan group.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
I think so, too.😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Yes, it was. And thank you both for not jumping to a negative conclusion.
The worst part is a CACG holder only fits in a blue box sideways taking up two spots! CACG seems to be way tougher than getting a sticker these days also. I prefer the PCGS + Sticker route, GC w/ sticker is OK. But always "buy the coin, not the holder(& sticker)"!!!
What’s “GC w/ sticker is OK” ?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I like the PCGS with a CAC sticker. I believe John is doing the stickering. Different graders are doing CACG. Do they have the same respect?
Correct. Or even better, CACG may straight grade your PCGS problem coin or upgrade a non-CAC PCGS coin by 2+ points. You never know what you will get with the grading services. Often times it is a roll of the dice.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
BHNC #AN-10
JRCS #1606
I had a really nice 32 Indian In 66, cac would not sticker, but would holder as a 66 in a cacg holder??
I buy the coin and not the holder.
Having said that, I like the way a PCGS slab looks with a CAC sticker on it. I have no issue with CACG but I dont like their holders.
My buying has slowed tremendously so when I do make a purchase these days I am very fussy. So PCGS with a CAC sticker is the way to go.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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Thank you. I learned something new!
How about some dealers selling CACG coins and saying that they are CAC approved?
Mike
My Indians
Dansco Set
Cracked out or in the slab?
Presumably, you already knew that CACG may detail-grade coins that have received straight grades at PCGS. And that PCGS may upgrade CACG coins by more than a point. In other words, each company is more liberal than the other in some instances and stricter in otherwise. 🫢😮
😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
The CACG slab with the “L “ designation was previously approved by JA with a CAC sticker.
Added for some context:
alaura22 Posts: 3,655 ✭✭✭✭✭ November 17, 2025 7:50PM
How about some dealers selling CACG coins and saying that they are CAC approved?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
It depends.
I prefer the PCGS OGH slab with the CAC sticker over the CACG slab.
On the other hand, I like the CACG slab with the plus grade as long as it has a L designation.
I like the PCGS slab with the CAC gold sticker most of all.
CACG doing well for me. They fit nicely in my CACG storage boxes. Sales of them very strong especially witter brick (investors chasing them).
Must view the actual CACG slab to see if it has the L designation. A dealer statement that the coin is CAC approved is not enough.
For the record, I also like NGC/CAC. I’d have never completed my set in its best and highest possible level or form had I not decided to include some stellar NGC examples that became available to me.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Here’s a scenario that might change some opinions. However, for those that chose the PCGS w/CAC sticker purely for participating in the PCGS Registry, this example is not applicable.
As many of you know, CAC stickering does NOT recognize plus grades, but CACG does recognize plus grades! As such, would you prefer a PCGS 65+ with a CAC sticker, or a CACG 65+? Before you answer, understand that with a PCGS 65+ w/CAC, PCGS is saying the coin is a 65+, but CAC is only saying the coin is solid as a 65. Maybe they agree the coin merits the plus, but maybe not. We’ll never know! But the coin graded 65+ by CACG IS in their opinion, solid as a 65+.
For me, the PCGS Registry is very important, so I would have to still go with the PCGS 65+ w/CAC. But I know for a fact, that if the PCGS Registry was not so important to me, I would absolutely go with the CACG 65+, since in my opinion, CACG in general grades more conservatively than PCGS, and CACG is telling me that coin is solid as a 65+. With the PCGS coin, we don’t know if CAC feels it’s solid as a 65+ or not. Hands down, I’d go with the CACG plus coin if the PCGS Registry was not so important.
Keep in mind in the above example, you only have ONE opinion on each coin that it's a 65+.
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
I would have the PCGS with a green CAC sticker.
OK. Can you share your main reason? Is it because you prefer having all of your graded coins in the same TPG slab?
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
@Walkerfan you are wise. You are buying the coin on its virtues instead of buying the brand of the holder that contains it. I will add that there are also some really nice coins in ANACS holders -- and they aren't accepted for consideration of a sticker at CAC.
I have often heard that a PCGS coin with a CAC sticker is a better coin (and worth more) than a NGC coin with a CAC sticker. I have never understood the logic nor reasoning behind this. If both coins are the same date from the same series with the same MS65 grade, and both have been "approved" with a CAC sticker, how can one be considered better than the other, especially sight unseen? Both coins should be considered of equal quality. After all, both are "approved" with a CAC sticker for the same grade.
I agree fully with you, @bammbamm. Your logic is perfect. However, “the market” does not always follow logic. For whatever reason or reasons, apparently in many cases, as a generalization, “classic” coins graded by PCGS with CAC stickers seem to get more bidders and/or bidders willing to pay more, than similar (or even nicer) coins graded by NGC with the same CAC stickers.
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Overkill?
Don’t let them bug you. Many players have their own preferences. The holder game, etc.
CACG and stickered coins are a seperate inventory (pricing) class as far as how valued by the CDN. Beyond that I don’t give a hoot. I have some really nice ANACS / ICG coins too. Plus CAG, PCGS and NGC.
They would most likely downgrade it to a 65 or a 65+ but there is still the chance for them to give it a 66
Collector
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+1
@bammbamm Thank You. I’m glad that you get it.
When you’re collecting really high-end rare material such as early walkers, you have to act not only when opportunity presents itself but also with what the market offers, as well. I trust my eye, so I’m not gonna turn down a really nice coin just because it’s in an NGC slab, especially, if the price is right. Who knows when I may get another opportunity (in any plastic brand) and then have to pay double or even triple?? That would be beyond foolish just for plastic uniformity and/or allegiance. FWIW, most of my set is PCGS and I would buy them first, if given the opportunity, AND ONLY if the price was reasonable but only because of market favoritism and investment potential. Not because I ‘like’ one more than the other. One final note-I would MUCH rather have a complete set that has mixed plastic brands, than an incomplete set of only PCGS.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Presumably both. I can't imagine CACG seeing a problem coin and straight grading it, it would have to be cracked. But an upgrade could just be submitted in the slab.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
BHNC #AN-10
JRCS #1606