Certified Acceptance Corporation OFFERS Direct Competition

Becomes a Full Grading Service

- SCOTT A. TRAVERS

Every dealer, collector and investor knows the routine: Get your coin graded by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), and then send it to the Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC) for a green sticker to verify that it’s solidly graded.

Now consumers have another option. CAC is becoming a full-fledged encapsulation service by also offering authentication and grading services, making it a one-stop shop.

GRADING THE COIN GRADING SERVICES 

Since 2008, CAC has been evaluating coins and verifying them by placing holographic stickers on the holder or “slab” of each coin. It does this for coins that merit the grade they have been given by the authentication services.

Coins are rated or graded on a scale of one through 70, where one refers to a coin so well worn that it’s barely identifiable, and 70 represents a coin so flawless that the only imperfections visible can be seen under a five-power magnifying glass.

These oval stickers, which incorporate tamper-evident holograms, distinguish higher-quality coins from those which CAC believes are low-end or even over-graded.

CAC makes a market in these solidly graded coins and maintains a public access registry with the serial numbers of all coins it has verified.

The total value of coins submitted since CAC’s founding in 2008 is a breathtaking $7,121,537,442. CAC has evaluated 1,542,597 coins with an average value of $4,600 per coin.