Monthly report: CAC coins bring premiums in September 2019

CAC approved coins outperformed other certified coins in the official auction at the Long Beach Expo in Los Angeles County, and in various public Internet sales during the month of September. Here are ten examples, which were selected from a large number of results that could have been listed.

1. In the official auction of the Long Beach Expo during early September, Heritage sold a CAC approved MS-64 grade 1876-CC Twenty Cent Piece for $456,000. In August, Stack’s-Bowers auctioned a PCGS graded MS-65 1876-CC Twenty Cent Piece without a CAC sticker for this same amount, $456,000. A CAC approved MS-64 grade, famous rarity thus brought the same amount as a non-CAC PCGS graded MS-65 grade 1876-CC Twenty Cent Piece that was struck from the same pair of dies at a U.S. Mint in Carson City, Nevada.

2. On September 5 at the Long Beach Expo, Heritage auctioned a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1916-D Mercury dime with a Full Bands (FB) designation for $66,000. Heritage auctioned PCGS certified MS-66 Full Bands 1916-D dimes without stickers of approval from CAC for $36,000 at a CSNS Convention in April and for $45,600 [link] at the FUN Convention in January 2019.

1880-O $1 PCGS MS65 CAC

3. On September 5, Heritage auctioned a CAC approved MS-65 grade 1880-O Morgan silver dollar for $21,600. These are not often auctioned. Back in July 2018, Heritage sold a PCGS graded MS-65 1880-O Morgan without a CAC sticker for $12,000, and the firm of David Lawrence sold a different PCGS graded MS-65 1880-O Morgan without a CAC sticker for $14,000.

4.  On Sept. 5, Heritage auctioned a NGC graded MS-63 1907 High Relief $20 gold coin with a CAC sticker for $21,600 [link], and a PCGS graded MS-63 1907 High Relief $20 gold coin with a CAC sticker for $20,400 [link]. In July 2019, Heritage auctioned a different PCGS graded MS-63 1907 High Relief $20 gold coin with a CAC sticker for $22,200 [link]. The prices realized for these three CAC approved coins should be compared to prices realized for two PCGS graded MS-63 1907 High Relief $20 gold coins without CAC stickers, $18,000  [link] at a Heritage auction in April, and $16,800 [link] in the official auction at the Long Beach Expo in June 2019. All five High Relief Saints that were just mentioned are of the ‘Wire Edge’ variety, which is often referred to as a “Wire Rim.”

1924-D 25c NGC MS65 FH CAC

5. On Sept. 5, Heritage auctioned a NGC graded MS-65 1924-D Standing Liberty quarter with a Full Head (FH) designation and a CAC sticker for $8700 [link]. In August 2019, at an ANA Convention, Heritage auctioned a PCGS certified MS-65 ‘Full Head’ (FH) 1924-D without a CAC sticker for $2880 [link].

6. On September 5, Heritage auctioned a CAC approved MS-68 grade 1882-S Morgan silver dollar for $6900 [link]. In January 2019, in the FUN Convention auction, Heritage sold two PCGS graded MS-68 1882-S Morgans, neither of which had a CAC sticker. Each of these non-CAC 1882-S Morgans realized $4560 [link] [link]. Back in October 2018, Stack’s-Bowers auctioned a PCGS graded MS-68 1882-S Morgan dollar without a CAC sticker, for $4800 [link].

7. On Sept. 5, Heritage auctioned a CAC approved MS-66 1926 $20 gold coin for $6600 [link] at a Long Beach Expo. The next day, on Sept. 6, Heritage sold a PCGS graded MS-66 1926 $20 gold coin without a CAC sticker for $3600 [link], 45% less!

8. On Sept. 22, the firm of GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-66 grade 1916 Mercury dime with a Full Bands (FB) designation for $596.25 [link]. On August 14, 2019, Heritage sold a PCGS graded MS-66 1916 Mercury dime, also with a Full Bands (FB) designation but without a CAC sticker for $324 [link]. Both coins were in PCGS blue-label holders from the same era. On February 6, 2019, Heritage sold a different PCGS certified MS-66 FB 1916 Mercury dime without a CAC sticker for $228 [link].

9. On Sept. 22, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved XF-45 grade 1875 Twenty Cent Piece for $489.38 [link]. On May 8, 2019, Heritage sold two PCGS graded XF-45 1875 Twenty Cent Pieces without CAC stickers for $348 [link] and $384 [link], respectively.

10. On Sept. 22, GreatCollections sold a CAC approved MS-67 grade 1947 Walking Liberty half dollar for $4520.25. On August 28, Heritage sold two PCGS graded MS-67 1947 Walkers without CAC stickers for $840 [link] and $960 [link], respectively. At the end of April 2019, Heritage sold two other PCGS graded MS-67 1947 Walking Liberty halves, without CAC stickers for $840 [link] and $2430 [link].