CAC

CAC is an independent certification service that reviews coins already graded by a third-party grading service and applies a sticker to the holder of those it judges to be solid or premium examples for the grade assigned. It is a second opinion layered on top of an existing grade, not a replacement for it.

The reasoning behind the service is that a grade on the Sheldon scale covers a range of quality. Two coins can both be accurately graded at the same number while one sits comfortably in the middle or upper part of that range and the other sits at the edge. CAC review is meant to identify the stronger coins within a grade without changing the number on the label.

Different sticker colors are used to distinguish categories of review outcome.

In practice this matters most on classic material such as Morgan dollars and pre-1933 US gold, where quality within a grade varies more than it does on modern bullion. A stickered coin is still a certified coin first, and the grade on the slab remains the primary description.

A Texas Bullion Exchange specialist can review any certified coin with you before you buy or sell.