Why CAC-Approved Coins Routinely Outperform the Market
Collectors have long recognized that not every coin carrying the same numerical grade offers the same quality. During June 2026, public auction results once again demonstrated that distinction. Across multiple auction houses, coins approved by Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC) or graded by CAC Grading (CACG) consistently realized significantly stronger prices than comparable examples without CAC approval.
While many factors influence auction prices, including eye appeal, toning, pedigree, rarity, and bidding competition, June’s results provide additional evidence that many bidders continue to assign meaningful premiums to coins that meet CAC’s stricter quality standards. The following examples compare publicly reported sales from June with recent transactions involving similarly graded coins that did not carry CAC approval.
Why CAC Premiums Continue to Matter
CAC evaluates already-certified coins and awards its green or gold sticker only to examples it believes are solid or exceptional for the assigned grade. CACG, launched in 2023, applies the same philosophy through its own grading service rather than reviewing third-party holders.
For collectors, these designations often reduce uncertainty. As a result, many buyers actively pursue CAC-approved or CACG-certified coins, particularly for scarce dates, condition rarities, and high-value collector issues. The June auction results illustrate how that confidence frequently translates into stronger hammer prices.
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
1918-S Mercury Dime MS-66 Full Bands
One of June’s most dramatic comparisons involved a CAC-approved PCGS MS-66 Full Bands 1918-S Mercury dime.
On June 16, Stack’s Bowers realized $31,720 for the coin.
Earlier in the year, GreatCollections sold an NGC MS-66 Full Bands example without CAC approval for $9,460.
Both coins carried the coveted Full Bands designation, yet the CAC-approved specimen realized more than three times as much.
Unique 1878 Judd-1566 Quarter Eagle Pattern
An especially noteworthy result involved the unique 1878 Judd-1566 Quarter Eagle pattern.
On June 16, Stack’s Bowers sold the CACG-certified Proof-66 Cameo specimen for $439,200.
The same coin had previously sold through Stack’s Bowers on August 25, 2022, when it resided in a PCGS Proof-67 Cameo holder without CAC approval. At that time, it realized $432,000.
Although the coin carried a lower numerical grade in 2026, it still brought a slightly higher price. Market conditions for ultra-rare gold patterns do not appear to have risen enough during that period to explain the increase by themselves.
1905 Barber Half Dollar MS-67
Another standout occurred with the 1905 Barber Half Dollar.
On June 16, Stack’s Bowers sold a CAC-approved PCGS MS-67 example for $21,960.
Earlier, on February 3, the firm sold a PCGS MS-67 coin without CAC approval for $10,200.
Despite identical numerical grades, the CAC-approved coin realized more than twice the earlier result.
1894-S Liberty Head Double Eagle MS-65
Perhaps the most direct comparison came when Stack’s Bowers offered two consecutive PCGS MS-65 1894-S Liberty Head Double Eagles during the same auction.
The CAC-approved example realized $40,260.
The non-CAC coin realized $21,960.
Because both coins sold in the same venue, during the same sale, this comparison largely removes broader market timing as a variable.
GreatCollections
1926 Indian Head Eagle MS-65
On June 21, GreatCollections sold a CACG MS-65 1926 Indian Head Eagle for $6,605.50.
Just three days earlier, Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS MS-65 example without CAC approval for $3,416.
The CACG-certified coin realized nearly double the price.
1908-S Barber Dime MS-67
On June 21, GreatCollections sold a CAC-approved PCGS MS-67 1908-S Barber dime for $9,350.
A comparable non-CAC PCGS MS-67 coin sold through Stack’s Bowers on August 29, 2025, for $3,840.
Although market levels likely strengthened between those dates, available market evidence suggests that appreciation alone does not fully explain the substantial difference.
1908 Indian Quarter Eagle MS-64
GreatCollections sold a CACG MS-64 1908 Indian Quarter Eagle for $3,217.50 on June 21.
Comparable non-CAC PCGS examples realized:
Stack’s Bowers (June 23): $1,830
GreatCollections (June 14): $2,036.10
Again, the CACG-certified coin brought the highest price.
Heritage Auctions
1926-S Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollar MS-67
On June 17, Heritage Auctions sold a CAC-approved PCGS MS-67 1926-S Oregon commemorative half dollar for $915.
Comparable non-CAC examples realized:
GreatCollections (February 15): $566.67
GreatCollections (January 25): $634.70
The CAC-approved coin established a substantially stronger result.
1924 Lincoln Cent MS-65 Red
Heritage offered three certified MS-65 Red 1924 Lincoln cents on June 22.
The CACG-certified coin realized $976.
Meanwhile:
PCGS Old Green Holder example: $762.50
PCGS modern holder example: $561.20
The CACG-certified coin produced the strongest performance among the three.
David Lawrence Rare Coins
1935-S Buffalo Nickel MS-67
On June 14, David Lawrence Rare Coins sold a CAC-approved NGC MS-67 1935-S Buffalo nickel for $3,000.
For comparison, GreatCollections sold a PCGS MS-67 example without CAC approval on May 24 for $1,602.70.
The CAC-approved coin realized nearly twice the price of the comparable non-CAC example.
1910 Liberty Head Nickel Proof-66
On June 21, DLRC sold a CAC-approved Proof-66 1910 Liberty Head nickel for $950.
Heritage Auctions sold a PCGS Proof-66 example without CAC approval on February 3 for $701.50.
Although market levels may have risen modestly between February and June, estimated price movement alone does not account for the difference between the two realizations.
1890 Liberty Head Nickel Proof-65
On June 28, DLRC sold a CACG-certified Proof-65 1890 Liberty Head nickel for $700.
Comparable non-CAC examples realized lower prices earlier in the year:
GreatCollections (April 12): $583
Heritage Auctions (January 20): $488
The CACG-certified coin brought the strongest result among the recent public sales.
The Broader Market Takeaway
No two coins are perfectly identical, even when they share the same date, mintmark, and certified grade. Eye appeal, toning, strike quality, provenance, and bidder participation all influence auction results. Therefore, one auction comparison alone should never establish a definitive market premium.
Even so, the June 2026 sales presented an unusually broad sample across multiple denominations, series, grading services, and auction firms. In case after case, CAC-approved and CACG-certified coins outperformed comparable examples without CAC endorsement. Several realized modest premiums, while others sold for two or even three times the prices achieved by similarly graded non-CAC coins.
For today’s collectors and investors, these results reinforce an important market reality. Many buyers continue to pay a premium for coins that have received CAC approval or reside in CACG holders because they view those designations as additional confirmation of superior quality within the assigned grade. As long as that confidence remains strong, CAC and CACG coins appear well-positioned to command continued attention, and often stronger prices, in the competitive rare coin marketplace.
It’s always amazing to see how much numismatics have changed over my lifetime.