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CAC's heritage is in vintage US coins, but with the transition to a grading service, we have opened the door to modern coins. To this end, we have set out to apply the same stringent standards used originally in our Stickering service across all the coins we are now Grading, including our modern coins. The result? Hobbyists and collectors will have total confidence in a coin certified by CAC. We determine a coin's grade by quality alone. We are confident that fewer coins submitted to us will achieve the ultimate grade of 70 than historical industry standards, letting the coins circulating in the market speak for themselves.
We strive to provide the best service possible. The turnaround times listed above are estimates but are not guaranteed. Certain submissions will, by their nature, take longer to complete. These turnaround estimates do not apply to our Stickering service.
Though grading is a subjective concept, we have tried to put our modern grading standards into words. Note that none of these standards allow for post-mint damage, so significant or discernable contact marks, such as reed marks, are unacceptable.
Modern coin deliveries, particularly from the US Mint, are met with much fanfare by collectors. To celebrate this, CAC grading offers several unique designations for coins submitted for certification around these deliveries. Coins receiving these designations, which include "First Delivery", "First Day of Delivery", and "Advanced Delivery", will be encapsulated with a unique label bearing the name of the designation.
The basic criteria for the Modern coin delivery designations are outlined below, but determining whether or not a submission qualifies for the requested designation is at the sole discretion of CAC Grading.
We offer the First Delivery designation for specific Modern coins that are received by us or a depository that has been approved by us within 30 days of the first shipment of a new coin issue. The CAC label will have a description of the coin that includes the words "First Delivery".
As mentioned, a coin(s) must typically be received by CAC Grading or a depository approved by us within the first 30 days of the coin's issue date in order to be eligible for the First Delivery designation. A list of First Delivery cutoff dates for Modern 2023 and 2024 US coins can be obtained from customer care at help@cacgrading.com.
The coin's delivery date may not be the same as the coin's date itself. For instance, a mint might issue a coin with the date of 2014 in 2015 or a date of 2017 in 2016. The criteria for the First Delivery designations are decided solely by CAC Grading. If we are unable to determine a coin's release date with reasonable certainty, we will not award the First Delivery designation.
Coins do not need to be shipped in sealed mint boxes or in their original government packaging, but they must arrive at CAC Grading in Virginia Beach before the deadlines listed here. A distinct stipulation could be necessary for coins that are categorized as part of a certain set that a mint has produced.
This designation is available, for a fee, to all submitters.
In order to be eligible for the First Day of Delivery designation, a coin(s) must be acquired within one day of the first day that a mint makes a new coin issue available for purchase. The coin(s) must also be received by CAC Grading ("us") or a depository approved by us within one week of the release date. The submitter must offer sufficient proof of the purchase date for the coins, including purchase receipts, if needed, for CAC Grading to accept the submission. As noted earlier, the criteria for the Modern Coin Delivery designations are outlined here, but determining whether or not a submission qualifies for the requested designation is at the sole discretion of CAC Grading.
In order to be eligible for the Advanced Delivery designation, the coin(s) must be purchased by designated mint customers before the publicly announced first day that a mint makes a new coin issue available for sale. The coin(s) must also be received by CAC Grading ("us") or a depository approved by us within one week of the delivery date to be eligible for the designation. CAC Grading may require the submitter to provide proof of the purchase date that is satisfactory to us. As noted earlier, the criteria for the Modern Coin Delivery designations are outlined here, but determining whether or not a submission qualifies for the requested designation is at the sole discretion of CAC Grading.
In order to be eligible for the Emergency Delivery designation, a coin(s) must be struck by the US Mint in an unexpected or emergency situation. Depending on the specific circumstances, CAC Grading may require specific evidence supporting the request for this designation by a submitter. Below sets forth the emergency situations and related requirements for obtaining the Emergency Delivery designation.
As with the other Modern Coin Designations, determining with or not a submission qualifies for this designation is at the sole discretion of CAC Grading.
During the 2020 pandemic, 240,000 American Silver Eagles (ASEs) were struck at the Philadelphia mint between April 8th and 21st while the West Point Mint was shut down for COVID-19 safety precautions. These coins are physically identical to other ASEs produced at other mints but were packaged uniquely to indicate they were part of this short-term program. To be eligible for the Emergency Delivery designation, coins must be submitted in the original mint packaging (unopened monster boxes with appropriate labeling) or as crossovers from other major, third-party certification services with a label indicating the emergency production.
