In April 2026, CAC-graded and CAC-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 22% to 948%. CAC-graded coins appear to be bringing in larger and larger premiums as the market shifts from CAC-Approved (stickered) to CAC-graded (CACG). 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.
Although it is noted below, we wanted to call special attention to the price realized on the 1933 $10 Indian. It bears the green CAC sticker and sold for over $1.5m, bringing a 65% premium over non-CAC coin of the same type even though the CAC coin is a grade lower!
1833 Classic Head 1/2c – MS61BN
On April 5, GreatCollections sold a CACG-graded MS61 1833 half cent for $777.70. On April 6, Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS graded MS61 1833 half cent, without a CAC sticker, for $366, less than half as much. Also on April 6, Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS graded MS62 (grade point higher) 1833 half cent, without a CAC sticker, for $512.40. On Jan. 11, GreatCollections sold a PCGS graded MS62 1833 half cent, without a CAC sticker, for $583. A CACG-graded MS61 coin thus brought more than each of two PCGS-graded MS62 1833 half cents.
1943-S Lincoln 1c, Steel – MS67
On April 5, at 4:24:18 PM Pacific Time, GreatCollections sold a CACG-graded MS67 1943-S steel cent for $224.40. Six seconds later, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-graded MS67 1943-S steel cent, without a CAC sticker, for $170.50. Three seconds after that, at 4:24:27 PM, GreatCollections sold a different PCGS-graded MS67 1943-S steel cent, without a CAC sticker, for $140.80.
1903 Liberty ‘V’ 5c – MS65
On April 12, GreatCollections sold a CACG-graded MS65 1903 nickel for $632.50. On Dec. 30, Heritage sold a PCGS-graded MS65 1903 nickel, without a CAC sticker, for $420. On Sept. 24, Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS-graded MS65 grade 1903 nickel, without a CAC sticker, for $336.
1933 $10 Indian – MS65
On April 29, Heritage auctioned a CAC approved MS65 grade 1933 $10 gold coin for $1,586,000. On Feb. 3, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a PCGS graded MS66 (grade point higher) grade 1933 $10 gold coin, without a CAC sticker, for $960,000.
1913 Buffalo 5c, Type 1 – MS68
On April 29, Heritage auctioned a CAC-approved MS68 grade 1913 ‘Type One’ Buffalo nickel for $26,840. On Jan. 15, Heritage auctioned an NGC-graded MS68 1913 ‘Type One’ Buffalo nickel, without a CAC sticker, for $2,562. On Sept. 21, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-graded MS68 1913 ‘Type One’ Buffalo nickel, without a CAC sticker, for $5,105.
1920-S Walking Liberty 25c – MS65FH
On April 29, Heritage auctioned a CAC-approved, PCGS-certified MS65 FH 1920-S quarter for $79,300. In the next lot, Heritage auctioned a PCGS-certified MS66 FH 1920-S quarter, without a CAC sticker, for this same price, $79,300. A CAC-approved MS65 FH coin thus brought the same amount as a non-CAC PCGS-certified MS66 (higher grade) FH 1920-S quarter. Also, on Dec. 14, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-certified MS65 FH 1920-S quarter, without a CAC sticker, for $23,650. Each of these received a ‘Full Head’ (FH) designation from PCGS.
1927-S Walking Liberty 25c – MS64FH
On April 29, Heritage auctioned a CAC-approved MS64 FH 1927-S quarter for $207,400. On Jan. 15, 2025, Heritage auctioned a PCGS-certified MS64 FH 1927-S quarter, without a CAC sticker, for $96,000. Market levels for these were only a little higher in April 2026 than they were in January 2025, yet the CAC-approved MS64 FH 1927-S quarter brought more than twice as much.
1929 Walking Liberty 25c – MS67FH
On April 29, Heritage auctioned a CAC-approved, PCGS-certified MS67 FH 1929 quarter for $23,180. On March 22, GreatCollections sold an NGC-certified MS67 FH 1929 quarter, without a CAC sticker, for $4,510. On Nov. 16, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-certified MS67 FH 1929 quarter, without a CAC sticker, for $8,585.50.
1818 Matron Head 1c – AU55
On April 6, Stack’s Bowers sold a CAC-approved AU55 grade 1818 large cent for $610. It is of a very common die variety. On Sept. 24, Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS-graded AU55 1818 large cent, without a CAC sticker, for $360. Even if market levels for these increased from September 2025 to April 2026, any such increase would not account for much of the difference between $610 and $360.
1955 DDO Lincoln 1c – AU55
On April 6, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a CAC-approved AU55 grade 1955/1955 Doubled Die Lincoln cent for $3,416. On April 12, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-graded AU55 1955/1955 Doubled Die cent, without a CAC sticker, for $2,497.55.
1937 Mercury 10c – PR67
On April 22, in consecutive lots, Stack’s Bowers sold two PCGS-certified Proof 67 1937 dimes. One with a CAC sticker brought $854, and the other, without a CAC sticker, brought $701.50.
1838 Capped Bust 50c, Reeded Edge – AU50
On April 19, David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) sold a CAC-approved AU50 grade 1838 half dollar for $1,001. On April 26, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-graded AU50 1838 half dollar, without a CAC sticker, for $732.60.
1984 DDO Lincoln 1c – MS67RD
On April 23, DLRC sold a CAC-approved MS67 Red 1984 ‘Doubled Die’ Lincoln cent for $1,330. On Feb. 8, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-certified MS67 Red 1984 ‘Doubled Die’ Lincoln cent, without a CAC sticker, for $444.40. Both coins received a ‘Full Red’ color designation from PCGS.
1851 3CS – MS66
On April 5, DLRC sold a CAC-approved, NGC-graded MS66 1851 Three Cent Silver for $1,950. On Dec. 14, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-graded MS66 1851 Three Cent Silver, without a CAC sticker, for $1,112.10.
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