John Albanese Is Signing 20,000 CACG Labels and Says He’ll Never Do It Again
A new CAC Grading initiative will turn 20,000 hand-signed certification labels into funding for coin clubs, numismatic organizations, charities, and food pantries.
CAC Grading Founder and CEO John Albanese has signed 20,000 specially created encapsulation inserts for what the company calls the CACG Charity Label project. CACG offered the labels through a private auction to its authorized modern bulk submission clients.
According to CAC Grading, the auction produced a six-figure winning bid. The company plans to donate all proceeds from the project.
However, there is another element that could make these labels especially notable to collectors. Albanese says he does not intend to sign CACG insert labels again.
“This is a ‘one-and-done’ signature signing,” Albanese said. “This is the last time my autograph will be on CACG insert labels.”
Numismatic Organizations Can Apply for Funding
CAC Grading plans to distribute the money among nonprofit numismatic organizations and other charitable causes.
Moreover, Albanese has opened the process to coin clubs and numismatic groups that believe they can put the funding to productive use.
He wants applicants to explain what their organization does, why it should receive funding, and how it would use the money. Albanese also made an unusual request for the applications: write them personally, without artificial intelligence software.
“I invite clubs and numismatic groups to write to me personally explaining why they should receive a donation, and how the money will be used,” Albanese said.
He added that applicants should explain their case in their own words. Albanese said he will personally read every request received by October 31, 2026.
Organizations can submit funding requests by email to [email protected].
CAC Grading also plans to direct part of the proceeds to food pantries that assist people in need.
The company says it will announce additional details about the CACG Charity Label project in the coming weeks.
From the CAC Sticker to CAC Grading
The charity initiative represents another chapter in Albanese’s long involvement with third-party coin certification.
In 2007, Albanese partnered with 22 leading members of the numismatic community to establish the Certified Acceptance Corporation, better known to collectors as CAC. The company created an additional quality review for coins already certified by third-party grading services.
Coins that met CAC’s standards could receive its familiar green sticker. Over time, the green CAC “bean” became widely recognized in the certified rare coin market as an indication that CAC considered the coin solid or premium for its assigned grade.
CAC later expanded beyond its original stickering model.
In 2022, Albanese helped assemble more than 150 members of the numismatic community to create a full third-party grading and encapsulation service. CAC Grading subsequently launched its grading operations in 2023.
Today, CACG grades and encapsulates coins directly while CAC continues to offer its established stickering service.
20,000 Labels With a Charitable Purpose
Special certification labels have become an increasingly visible part of the modern certified-coin market. However, the CACG Charity Label project adds a different dimension.
Rather than simply creating another signature label, CAC Grading tied the entire 20,000-label issue to fundraising.
The private auction generated a six-figure bid, according to the company. Every dollar of those proceeds will go to nonprofit numismatic organizations, charities, and food pantries.
At the same time, Albanese’s announcement that he will not sign another CACG insert label gives the project a defined endpoint.
For local clubs and larger numismatic organizations, though, the more immediate deadline is October 31. That is the date by which Albanese wants to receive requests explaining how a donation could benefit their programs or communities.
For additional information about CAC Grading, visit CACGrading.com, email [email protected], or call 888-537-3798.
