For coin collectors and investors, the Certified Acceptance Corporation certification is a standard in the world of numismatics. Founded in 2007, this entity takes coins that have already been graded by top-tier third-party grading services – like the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) – and applies another layer of grading.
What this ultimately means is that when a coin comes back with a “CAC Approved” sticker, it has not only been given the thumbs-up by those other high-quality grading services but also has been evaluated and found worthy by the Certified Acceptance Corporation.
What is CAC Certification?
In the world of coins, the role of CAC is to review coins that have already been graded and to determine whether or not they meet or exceed the standards for the grade they’ve been given. Coins that make it through this tough review process end up with a green or gold sticker on them, depending on how well they perform.
A green sticker means that the coin is solid for its grade and meets the strict standards set by the Corporation. A coin with a gold sticker is designated as “undergraded” and should be considered for a higher grade, instead of being dismissed as “good enough” for its assigned grade. On the whole, these stickers serve as excellent shorthand for signaling the quality of a given coin to potential buyers and sellers.
Why Certification Matters
The reason this certification is important is that the trust and precision coin markets thrive on are complemented by additional certification by a reputable source that a coin is worthy of being labeled as top grade.
PCGS and NGC do a reliable job of grading coins, but they also grade coins that aren’t quite worthy of the congressional medal of grading honor. Coins that the Corporation gives approval to consistently sell for higher prices than same-grade coins they don’t endorse.
The Certification Process
The certification process is both meticulous and objective. It is not rocket science; instead, it employs very basic principles that lie at the heart of all successful grading and authenticating endeavors.
The end goal is to identify and label the best coins (you might say “cherry-picked” coins) within the already select population of coins that have been highly graded and by the various services. The real beauty of what the CAC achieves, however, is that it is now possible to have a quantifiable “best” rating for coins.
Don’t Get Stuck with Low Grade/Quality Coins
The association between the Certified Acceptance Corporation and the realm of numismatics is one of quality and trust. That is evident from the very name of the organization; what it certifies is not just coin grades, but coin grades that are accepted as reliable and accurate by this trusted association.
When you see a green or gold sticker on a coin, you know it has been authenticated and assessed with high marks and that it is a truly valuable and trustworthy piece of numismatic art – whether for investment or collection.
