JA evaluates coins for CAC in real time — great vid

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SeattleSlammer
SeattleSlammer Posts: 10,125 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited April 22, 2026 9:06AM in U.S. Coin Forum

I especially liked JA’s insights on the 1898 MS66 Barber Quarter, where he’s on the fence about a bean.

See vid time stamp 39:12

He shares that CAC reviews 400-500 coins per day, and of those there will be around a dozen where he’ll consult with his grading team and “hash it out” to determine whether they make it … those coins that can go either way on any given day.

https://youtu.be/2aCXEFgWpHo

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  • GuzziSport
    GuzziSport Posts: 604 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Really very interesting, thank you for posting.

    Other passions include golf, Moto Guzzi motorcycles, and Euro motorcycles in general.
    Chris

  • oldabeintx
    oldabeintx Posts: 3,214 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thanks so much for posting this. Anyone doubting that grading is subjective and requires a huge commitment to gain proficiency should watch this video. Really excellent.

  • scotty1419
    scotty1419 Posts: 1,171 ✭✭✭✭
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    Thanks for sharing. Very interesting following the breakdowns of grading and evaluation.

  • P0CKETCHANGE
    P0CKETCHANGE Posts: 3,722 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Great, informative video featuring JA. Kudos to Tony for posting it, because he got absolutely shellacked in his submission.

    Nothing is as expensive as free money.

  • logger7
    logger7 Posts: 9,857 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Good video and overview of cac's review process. My takeaway is that any problems or variances from what they are used to approving will often be rejected. People probably expect too much from PCGS and NGC straight graded coins and figure that cac will see things the same way. I sent cac a 1912-s Liberty nickel that I was surprised was stickered though it was nearly damaged but totally original. From the video I see their primary concern would be the etiology of surface marks, etc., not just eye appeal.

  • scotty1419
    scotty1419 Posts: 1,171 ✭✭✭✭
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    @P0CKETCHANGE said:
    Great, informative video featuring JA. Kudos to Tony for posting it, because he got absolutely shellacked in his submission.

    That dirty dollar... he got burned in the most polite way possible.

  • pursuitofliberty
    pursuitofliberty Posts: 7,926 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    There's some really good snippets from JA in there. I'm not a podcast guy, but I'm glad I listened to most of it.


    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • Walkerguy21D
    Walkerguy21D Posts: 12,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Extremely informative, thanks for sharing this!

    Successful BST transactions with 177 members. breakdown, scotty1419, mattniss, bigjpst, onlyroosies, Manorcourtman, guitarwes, Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • Walkerfan
    Walkerfan Posts: 10,391 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Cabbage Coins always has great content and I’ve been following him for a while.

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • LeeBone
    LeeBone Posts: 4,888 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I’ve done business with Tony, great guy, great coins.

  • Matt04
    Matt04 Posts: 620 ✭✭✭✭
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    Watched it earlier. Great video and wonderful insight. Its always great to learn from those that have been grading & looking at coins for quite awhile!

    I was at the CAC office earlier today to pickup my coins. I've never spoken to JA but, last year I appreciated when a couple of my submissions he left little explanation stickers. I've learned a lot since then and will continue to!

  • Shurke
    Shurke Posts: 782 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That was a good watch. Fascinating to hear JA explain his decisions in terms of how he’d describe the coin over the phone to a potential buyer.

    It was also interesting to hear him talk about sometimes wishing he could give a coin two grades because the coin could (for instance) either legitimately be a 63 or a 64, but it could never be a 65.

  • KSorbo
    KSorbo Posts: 175 ✭✭✭
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    Excellent video! I could watch many more hours of JA explaining his insights.

  • Manorcourtman
    Manorcourtman Posts: 8,468 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That was an awesome video! Thanks to the OP for posting it!

  • Old_Collector
    Old_Collector Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That was a great video, now I know that all of my coins are probably covered in PVC unless they CAC'd. :D

  • MasonG
    MasonG Posts: 7,566 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    In another thread, there's a discussion about how many plus grades can be expected in a particular grade level, with some questioning when the expected grades aren't being awarded and here, a comment that a coin could either legitimately be a 63 or a 64.

    Interesting, no?

  • 2windy2fish
    2windy2fish Posts: 1,143 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @SeattleSlammer Ty for posting the video…have to say i would likely never have seen this…
    A couple of observations, after watching this video i can honestly say that it will change what i submit to CAC, an eye opening peek into how CAC examines/ perceives coins…
    Also! i want sooooo bad to crack out that 1872-S Seated dollar! I know exactly how to make it look so much nicer, not necessarily enough to sticker but how to make it a desirable Type coin

  • Coinbert
    Coinbert Posts: 761 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Awesome video! I always learn a lot when JA shares his opinions.

  • heavymetal
    heavymetal Posts: 661 ✭✭✭✭
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    This video could help some newbie collectors begin to grasp just what coin graders specifically look at if it was pinned to the top of the message list. Interesting and informative, thanks for posting.

  • usararecoins
    usararecoins Posts: 56 ✭✭✭
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    This is a very informative video that helps give insight to JA's standards and helpful to collectors evaluating coins. Tony at Cabbage Coins does a great job again!

  • TallahasseeCoinClub
    TallahasseeCoinClub Posts: 474 ✭✭✭✭
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    I enjoyed viewing it. For the most part, I think John Albanese and I think a lot alike.

    For the record, over the past 10(?) years, I have sent him approximately half a dozen CAC coins that did not seem suitable to their standards and they did take steps to re-evaluate. By far, most CAC coins (i.e. stickered or in CACG holders) seem at least decent for the grade if not flat-out nice.

    A couple of the premises mentioned, I do not agree with (acceptability of dipping being one). But I am probably better than 85% aligned with the overarching philosophies discussed.

    Official PCGS account of:

    www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

  • Meltdown
    Meltdown Posts: 9,283 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 24, 2026 11:08AM
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    @2windy2fish said:
    @SeattleSlammer Ty for posting the video…have to say i would likely never have seen this…
    A couple of observations, after watching this video i can honestly say that it will change what i submit to CAC, an eye opening peek into how CAC examines/ perceives coins…
    Also! i want sooooo bad to crack out that 1872-S Seated dollar! I know exactly how to make it look so much nicer, not necessarily enough to sticker but how to make it a desirable Type coin

    You can get the dirt out of that and keep the look? I would like to see that. I'm a big fan of crust but those two obverse mud stains killed it for me.
    That was a great video.

  • jedm
    jedm Posts: 3,266 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very informative!

  • Morgan13
    Morgan13 Posts: 2,691 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    JA is definetly generous with his time. I really like the way he explains things. Simple, honest and with much patience.
    Seems like a real gentleman. A good leader for an even better enterprise.

    Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
    Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
    Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7 JWP BruceS bigjpst
    JWP PROMETHIUS88

  • ProofCollection
    ProofCollection Posts: 8,052 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I could watch these videos all day, so informative and educational. And not a slight on Cabbage Coins but it's refreshing to see that dealers a lot of time dealers make mistakes too.

  • bammbamm
    bammbamm Posts: 176 ✭✭✭
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    Very informative and interesting. Now I know why my Standing Liberty Quarters failed to sticker.

  • JerseyB
    JerseyB Posts: 159 ✭✭✭
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    Interesting watch for sure. I wonder if the coins that JA said had "problems" would straight grade at CACG?

  • Catbert
    Catbert Posts: 8,258 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I was surprised to hear that some rub is sticker acceptable at the lower MS levels since I thought the CACG grading service would knock these down to AU58.

    Seated Half Society member #38

    "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
    running like a water color in the rain...."
  • Baylor8670
    Baylor8670 Posts: 291 ✭✭✭✭
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    I was pleasantly surprised by how much John stresses the benefits of conservation. The coin with the dirt all over the obverse made me cringe on how bad it looked and how easy it is to conserve. The 67 $2.50 with the film on it makes you wonder how it straight graded. I doubt a 67 would have that much residue naturally.

    I almost fell out of my chair when he kept recommending dipping/acid in certain situations (done by professionals, of course).

  • BillJones
    BillJones Posts: 35,933 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It funny how I agreed with JA about 99% of the time. The thing that gets me is the guys who label all of the coins without stickers as "junk." It still a collectable piece, and thank goodness there are still buyers who don't have to have CAC hold their hand.

    A couple of the pieces that were graded VF-35 or 30 would be perfectly acceptable as a VF-20. But the market says they are supposed to be worth more.

    I didn't like the MS-66 graded Barber Quarter at all. It needed to be swirled under the light to make a case for, and that didn't happen. As it was, it looked like that were dark areas where the toning had "gone too far."

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • BillJones
    BillJones Posts: 35,933 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 26, 2026 3:07PM
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    @Baylor8670 said:
    I was pleasantly surprised by how much John stresses the benefits of conservation. The coin with the dirt all over the obverse made me cringe on how bad it looked and how easy it is to conserve. The 67 $2.50 with the film on it makes you wonder how it straight graded. I doubt a 67 would have that much residue naturally.

    I almost fell out of my chair when he kept recommending dipping/acid in certain situations (done by professionals, of course).

    This one is graded MS-65, and to me it's a far better, or perhaps one could say, far more desirable coin. The MS-67 graded piece was deadly dull. An MS-67 has to "pop" and sing and dance.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • Baylor8670
    Baylor8670 Posts: 291 ✭✭✭✭
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    Has anyone ever seen another interview like this where you can follow along as JA reviews coins?

    This was a very informative podcast.

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