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 Replies: 21 / Views: 3,193 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3634 Posts |
I received a small package in the mail today I wasn't expecting. I was wondering if I'd ordered a coin in the wee hours of the morning and forgot I did it (it wouldn't have been the first time  ). However, it was a CAC Grading Inaugural Sample! I've been a member of CAC for a while now, but up to this point hadn't submitted any coins to them so was definitely surprised to receive it. My initial thoughts on the slab are quite positive. Away from the concentric ring around the coin the holder is quite thin, and the edges of the slab are very clean and smooth. A bit different appearance compared to the NGC and PCGS slabs.   Edited by hokiefan_82
07/31/2023 9:26 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Choice BU? What does that mean? If CAC Grading is trying to get off to a good start, this doesn't help. Poor label layout as well - doesn't make it clear that CAC is the actual grading company. Not impressed.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3634 Posts |
Coinfrog, I was also surprised they didn't say "CAC Grading" somewhere on the label instead of just having the CAC green bean.
Regarding the Choice BU, I know other grading companies' sample slabs don't necessarily have a numeric grade, either.
For example, some PCGS sample slabs have no mention of a grade whatsoever, and some simply have a grade of MS or even CIRCULATED on the label. I know some do have an actual numeric grade, however. I've seen NGC sample slabs with a numeric grade but also without any grade at all. Most ANACS sample slabs I've seen have a numeric grade, but I've seen some without any grade shown.
So, that didn't surprise me too much seeing the "Choice BU" designation for these samples.
Regarding the name, I assume the familiarity of the green bean led to them using that on the label, but I can see that the difference between CAC Grading labeled coins and a NGC/PCGS coins with the green bean may be a source of confusion.
Member of SPMC, FCCB, ANA and ANS. My U.S. Classic Commemorative Complete Set: https://www.NGCcoin.com/registry/co...sets/278741/My U.S. Fractional Note Set: https://notes.www.collectors-societ...eSetID=34188Edited by hokiefan_82
07/31/2023 10:18 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4395 Posts |
Got mine in the mail today too. Also in the same boat as you being a member but not having sent anything yet. Because the rims are raised so far off the label and they're not rounded, they feel really thick to me even though they're about the same thickness as an NGC slab. Not a big fan of how they feel in-hand. I think I still favor NGC and PCGS slabs over these. Quote:
Choice BU? What does that mean? Generic grades are pretty standard for sample slabs. No grading company is going to put their graders to work grading thousands of worthless coins they're giving away for free. Quote:
doesn't make it clear that CAC is the actual grading company. I like this part of it, make it subtle, put more focus on the details of the coin. They still managed that despite having it says CAC 12+ times on the front. What I don't like is they copied the layout from PCGS almost 1:1. Could have made something unique to CAC, but no they just made a PCGS clone label. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Not making it clear that CAC is the grading company is senseless to me. Subtle? Makes it look like a cheap knockoff slab.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3634 Posts |
Quote:
Because the rims are raised so far off the label and they're not rounded, they feel really thick to me even though they're about the same thickness as an NGC slab My exact thought when I first was handling the slab. It seemed to be a lot thicker, but after comparing to the PCGS/NGC slabs it's not. Then I realized that the body of the slab is very thin away from the ring around the coin which just makes it appear thicker overall because of how far the rims extend. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3634 Posts |
Quote:
Not making it clear that CAC is the grading company is senseless to me. I agree; as mentioned previously, I can see it being a little confusing, especially to newbies. I wouldn't be surprised to see an early update to the label which includes the actual name of the grading company and not just the green bean. And while CAC is displayed repeatedly in the front and back label in sort of a watermark-like appearance, it's very subtle in-hand. I will add that they do have the CACgrading.com website mentioned on the reverse label regarding disclosures and disclaimers, but it's in a very tiny font at the top. Member of SPMC, FCCB, ANA and ANS. My U.S. Classic Commemorative Complete Set: https://www.NGCcoin.com/registry/co...sets/278741/My U.S. Fractional Note Set: https://notes.www.collectors-societ...eSetID=34188Edited by hokiefan_82
07/31/2023 11:00 pm
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Quote:
Choice BU? What does that mean? According to Red Book, it means MS-63 John1  |
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
Very interesting!  I must be in the minority, it was immediately apparent to me this was a CAC slab.  And I agree, sample slabs are supposed to have "worthless grades" on them. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4395 Posts |
Quote:
it was immediately apparent to me this was a CAC slab. It was to me too. I don't think I worded my first response too well now that I re-read it this morning. Aside from making a unique layout, I can't think of anything that would make this more obviously a CAC slab than to put a giant CAC logo somewhere on it. I prefer this more subtle label than an alternative that throws a giant CAC logo at you. Not sure what frog's thoughts are on why this isn't clearly a CAC slab or what could be done to make it more obvious, but I think it is obvious as is. I want to reiterate though that this being a copy of the PCGS layout is bad. Year + mint top left, denomination top right, grade at very center, details below grade in slightly smaller font, cert # on barcode centered at bottom. Exact 1:1 of PCGS. If they had a unique layout I would like this better. Edited by Tanman2001
08/01/2023 10:31 am
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
They label being extremely similar to PCGS does not bother me, but it might bother them.  Hopefully after handing out these samples they listen to the feedback and make improvements where necessary.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4587 Posts |
If you read the various posts during the ramp-up, CACG or CAC Grading was not the preferred name. They actually used CAC Virginia Beach for the slabbing company vs CAC New Jersey for the sticker people.
I think the ship sailed and there's no way to change people's usage away from CACG/CAC Grading, but that might be why it doesn't SAY CACG/CAC Grading.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
Interesting. Thank you for the additional information. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
First glance it looks like some unknown grading company's slab got a CAC sticker.
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
Yes. I can see that if the watermarks had not caught my eye.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4587 Posts |
While the first few have sold for IMNSHO insane prices, it was revealed that they made 5,000 of these. https://forum.cacgrading.com/discus...omment_18340That would be the largest issue of samples ever, except possibly for PCGS-010-1-3 the Rattler dimes. And those were made and distributed over many years. Now the market of today is different from the market of 1986. -----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Replies: 21 / Views: 3,193 |
Posted 07/31/2023 10:12 pm
