In May 2026, CAC-graded (CACG) and CAC-approved (Stickered) coins were favored at auction and performed well in online sales. From the selection of auction sales sampled here, the premium on CAC coins ranged from 25% to 88%. CACG coins brought in larger premiums this month, suggesting the market is recognizing the value of CACG coins. The famous little green bean embedded in the CACG labels is adding significant value to collectors’ coins. These premiums are indicative of CAC coins, whether CACG or Stickered, consistently bringing higher premiums than their non-CAC counterparts.
The largest premium realized in May was 88% on a CACG Hawaiian 25c sold by DLRC. The coin that sold for the most money out of this month’s selected items was an 1834 Classic Head $5. Graded AU58 by CACG, this coin brought in a stellar price of over $4,000, representing a ~50% premium. It was another great month for CAC coins!
1858 Liberty Seated 50c – MS62
On May 3, DLRC sold a CACG-graded MS62 1858 Liberty Seated half dollar for $1,650. These are not auctioned often. On Nov. 25, 2025, Heritage sold a PCGS-graded MS62 1858 half, without a CAC sticker, for $960. On Oct. 21, Heritage sold an NGC-graded MS62 1858 half, without a CAC sticker, for $1,200.
1834 Classic Head, Plain 4 $5 – AU58
On May 3, GreatCollections sold a CACG-graded AU58 1834 Classic Head ‘Plain 4’ $5 gold coin for $4,265.50. On April 19, GreatCollections sold an NGC-graded AU58 1834 Classic Head ‘Plain 4’ $5 gold coin, without a CAC sticker, for $2,860.
1883 Hawaii 25c – XF45
On May 3, DLRC sold a CACG-graded XF45 1883 Hawaii quarter for $280. On March 4, Heritage sold a PCGS-graded XF45 1883 Hawaii quarter, without a CAC sticker, for $149, and a PCGS-graded AU58 (several grades higher!) 1883 Hawaii quarter, also without a CAC sticker, for $237.90.
1883 ‘No Cents’ Liberty 5c – PR64
On May 6, Stack’s Bowers sold a CACG-certified Proof 64 1883 ‘No Cents’ Liberty Head nickel for $561.20. On April 28, Heritage sold a PCGS-certified Proof 64 1883 ‘No Cents’ Liberty Head nickel, without a CAC sticker, for $402.60.
1835 Capped Bust 10c – XF45
On May 6, Stack’s Bowers sold a CACG-graded XF45 1835 dime for $463.60. This 1835 dime is of a die pairing (JR1) that is common. On Jan. 25, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-graded XF45 1835 dime, without a CAC sticker, for $369.60
1895-S Morgan $1 – VG10
On May 10, GreatCollections sold a CACG-graded VG10 1895-S Morgan silver dollar for $688.60. On May 20, Heritage sold a PCGS-graded VG-10 1895-S Morgan, without a CAC sticker, for $488. On May 24, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-graded VG10 1895-S Morgan, without a CAC sticker, for $497.20. On May 27, Heritage sold a different PCGS-graded VG10 1895-S Morgan dollar, without a CAC sticker, for $512.40.
1935 Connecticut 50c – MS66
On May 18, in successive lots, Heritage sold three certified MS66 grade 1935 Connecticut commemorative half dollars: a CACG-graded coin for $1,525, a PCGS-graded coin for $915, and an NGC-graded coin for $860.10. Neither the cited PCGS-graded MS66 1935 Connecticut half nor the NGC-graded coin had a CAC sticker.
1871 Seated Liberty $1 – XF40
On May 24, at 6:00:57 PM Pacific Time, GreatCollections sold a CACG-graded XF40 1871 Liberty Seated dollar for $1,161.60. Six seconds earlier, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-graded XF40 1871 silver dollar, without a CAC sticker, for $892.10. Three seconds after that, at 6:00:54 PM, and thus three seconds before the sale of the CACG-graded coin, GreatCollections sold a different PCGS-graded XF40 1871 silver dollar, without a CAC sticker, for $882.20.
1862 3cs – MS64
On May 3, DLRC sold a CAC-approved MS64 grade 1862 Three Cent Silver for $1100. On May 12, Heritage sold a PCGS-graded MS64 1862 Three Cent Silver, without a CAC sticker, for $762.50. On March 16, Stack’s Bowers sold a different PCGS-graded MS64 1862 Three Cent Silver, without a CAC sticker, for $780.
1945 Walking Liberty 50c – MS67
On May 5, Heritage sold a CAC-approved MS67 graded 1945 half dollar for $1,220. Actually, from January to May, CAC-approved MS67 grade 1945 half dollars have sold for prices ranging from a sale by GreatCollections of $862.40 on May 3 to a sale of $1708 by Heritage on Jan. 27.
PCGS-graded MS67 1945 half dollars, without CAC stickers, sold for $610 by Heritage on Feb. 3 and for $660 by GreatCollections on May 17. NGC-graded MS67 1945 half dollars, without CAC stickers, sold for $524.70 by GreatCollections on Jan. 25 and for $524.60 by Heritage on May 26. So far in 2026, especially during May, CAC-approved MS67 grade 1945 halves have realized far more than PCGS or NGC-graded MS67 1945 halves, without CAC stickers.
1946-S Washington 25c – MS67
On May 26, Heritage sold a CAC-approved MS67 grade 1946-S quarter for $231.80. On May 12, Heritage sold an NGC-graded MS67 1946-S quarter, without a CAC sticker, for $109. On May 5, Heritage sold a PCGS-graded MS67 1946-S quarter, without a CAC sticker, for $159.
1928 Buffalo 5c – MS65
On May 27, Stack’s Bowers sold a CAC-approved MS65 grade 1928 Buffalo nickel for $414.80. On May 10, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-graded MS65 1928 nickel, without a CAC sticker, for $296. Back on Oct. 21, 2025, Heritage sold a different PCGS-graded MS65 1928 Buffalo nickel, without a CAC sticker, for $204.
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