In June 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 2% to 235%. 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 June was 235% on a 1918-S Mercury Dime with a Green CAC Sticker. The highest sale price realized was over $439,000 for a CACG Proof pattern coin; this coin sold for 2% more than when it was in a non-CACG holder that carried a higher grade. As discussed below, this is great evidence that taking a lower grade when crossing a coin to a CACG holder isn’t really a downgrade.
Overall, it was another great month for CAC coins!
1878 J-1566 Pattern $2.5 – PR66CAM
On June 16, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a CACG-certified Proof-66-Cameo 1878 J-1566 $2.5 gold piece, a unique pattern, for $439,200. On Aug. 25, 2022, Stack’s Bowers auctioned this exact same piece, while it was PCGS-certified Proof-67-Cameo, without a CAC sticker, for $432,000. Market levels for rare gold patterns were not higher in June 2026 than they were in August 2022. In other words, a CACG-certified Proof-66 1878 $2.5 gold pattern brought more than the same exact piece did while it was PCGS-certified Proof-67 (grade point higher!). It had downgraded.
1908 Indian $2.5 – MS64
On June 21, GreatCollections sold a CACG-graded MS64 1908 $2.5 gold coin for $3,217.50. On June 23, Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS MS64 1908 $2.5 gold coin, without a CAC sticker, for $1,830. On June 14, GreatCollections sold a different PCGS MS64 1908 $2.5 gold coin, without a CAC sticker, for $2,036.10.
1926 Indian $10 – MS65
On June 21, GreatCollections sold a CACG-graded MS65 1926 Indian Head $10 gold coin for $6,605.50. On June 18, Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS-graded MS65 1926 Indian Head $10 gold coin, without a CAC sticker, for $3,416.
1924 Lincoln 1c – MS65RD
On June 22, Heritage sold three certified MS65-grade 1924 Lincoln cents, each with a ‘Full Red’ (RD) designation, two by PCGS, without CAC stickers, and one by CACG, which sold for $976. A 1924 Lincoln in an old PCGS holder realized $762.50, and a 1924 Lincoln in a relatively new PCGS holder realized $561.20. The CACG-graded 1924 Lincoln thus brought much more, $976, than either PCGS-graded coin.
1890 Liberty ‘V’ 5c – PR65
On June 28, DLRC sold a CACG-certified Proof-65 1890 Liberty Head nickel for $700. On April 12, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-certified Proof-65 1890 Liberty Head nickel, without a CAC sticker, for $583. On Jan. 20, Heritage sold a different PCGS-certified Proof-65 1890 Liberty Head nickel, without a CAC sticker, for $488.
1935-S Buffalo 5c – MS67
On June 14, DLRC sold a CAC-approved, NGC-graded MS67 1935-S nickel for $3,000. On May 24, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-graded MS67 1935-S nickel, without a CAC sticker, for $1,602.70.
1918-S Mercury 10c – MS66FB
On June 16, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a CAC-approved, PCGS-certified MS66FB 1918-S dime for $31,720. On April 19, GreatCollections sold an NGC-certified MS66FB 1918-S dime, without a CAC sticker, for $9,460. Both coins received ‘Full Bands’ (FB) designations from a grading service.
1905 Barber 50c – MS67
On June 16, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a CAC-approved MS67 grade 1905 half dollar for $21,960. On Feb. 3, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a PCGS-graded MS67 1905 half dollar, without a CAC sticker, for $10,200, less than half as much.
1894-S Liberty $20 – MS65
On June 16, in successive lots, Stack’s Bowers auctioned two PCGS-graded MS65 1894-S $20 gold coins. One of the two had a CAC sticker, and it realized $40,260. The other, without a CAC sticker, realized $21,960.
1926-S Oregon 50c – MS67
On June 17, Heritage sold a CAC-approved MS67-graded 1926-S Oregon commemorative half dollar for $915. On Feb. 15, GreatCollections sold a PCGS-graded MS67 1926-S Oregon half, without a CAC sticker, for $566.67. On Jan. 25, GreatCollections sold an NGC-graded MS67 1926-S Oregon half, without a CAC sticker, for $634.70.
1910 Liberty ‘V’ 5c – PR66
On June 21, DLRC sold a CAC-approved Proof-66 1910 nickel for $950. On Feb. 3, Heritage sold a PCGS-certified Proof-66 1910 nickel, without a CAC sticker, for $701.50. Market levels for these were probably around 7.5% higher in June than they were in February 2026, not enough to account for the difference between $950 and $701.50.
1908-S Barber 10c – MS67
On June 21, GreatCollections sold a CAC-approved MS67-grade 1908-S dime for $9,350. On Aug. 29, 2025, Stack’s Bowers sold a PCGS-graded MS67 1908-S dime, without a CAC sticker, for $3,840, less than half as much. Market levels for these were probably 10% higher in June 2026 than they were in August 2025, not enough to account for the difference in prices realized between a CAC-approved coin and a non-CAC PCGS-graded MS67 1908-S dime.
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