CAC Opinions?

I personally think the rise of CAC is a signal of the failures of the major TPGs. With current PCGS/NGC submissions, you can use the '+' indicator to indicate something is strong for the grade. So it doesn't just boil down to CAC being able to tell if something is graded conservatively. CAC considers eye appeal, and other small characteristics that the TPGs should be weighing into their grading system but aren't. Collectors value these characteristics that CAC considers that TPGs are undervaluing. That's why these coins will consistently bring more money. From my experience, CAC stickered coins tend to be strong examples. Sure, it's only a sticker, and there are always exceptions. And there are tons of coins without the CAC sticker that are amazing.

Well, we don't really know what kind of volume they're moving. What we *do* know, though, is that the people doing it are high-level dealers, the kind of folks who move $10k coins as opposed to AU Morgans. What do you suppose John Albanese would charge if you wanted to hire him by the hour for a numismatic endeavor?

CAC isn't about being a for-profit company. It's about re-creating a coin market where accurate grades are leading to fair pricing, the whole point that Albanese was reaching for in the founding of PCGS and NGC. Except they've perverted that market over the years, cheapened and diluted it to the point where we're frankly spoiled by what we can afford. I'm just not really sure if MS65 stuff the average collector can afford today, should be within their reach.

Yeah, I get that I'm sounding like a corporate shill here. But I'm also somebody who has gotten crud prices for really nice coins, since so much of the buyer demographic honestly places hard faith in the number on the slab. And I'm disgusted by what I see in slabs sometimes. CAC ones, too, as I've mentioned here, but at least those guys are putting their money where their mouths are. I like the fact that they're risking personal profit on the outcome. What better motivator?

"PCGS founder David Hall stated, "The reality of the market place is that coins considered high end for the grade are recognized by sophisticated dealers and collectors and such coins are worth a premium in the marketplace. The term "plus" has been part of the everyday trading and grading lingo for years. The high end for any particular grade represents the top 30 percent of the scale within a grade and I estimate that the plus designation would apply to approximately 15 percent to 20 percent of the coins within any individual grade. For the market's two leading grading services to recognize this reality and designate these premium coins as part of their grading services is a huge benefit to all participants in the rare coin market."
To me that sounds more like it's a premium coin for the grade like with cac than a halfway point between the grades. don willis, current pcgs presidents statement on it seems to indicate the same "A Plus coin is a coin that is very high end for the assigned grade. The coin does not quite make it to the next grade but has superior qualities for the grade it's in. Some people call them sliders. Some call them PQ. The coin stands out.Several factors go into determining whether a coin is Plus or not. Eye appeal such as beautiful toning is just one of several factors. Strike, luster, marks, originality and eye appeal all are part of the Plus decision. "
id link directly to it but its from a site that isn't allowed to be linked to here.