In addition to faring well in Internet sales, CAC-approved coins outperformed other certified coins in live auctions in Maryland and Texas during March. Here are 10 examples, which were selected from a large number of results that could have been listed.

1916-S Walking Liberty half dollar. MS-64. CAC. Hover to zoom.
- On March 1, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a CAC-approved MS-64 1916-S Walking Liberty half dollar for $3,600. Later in the month, Heritage auctioned two MS-64 1916-S Walking Liberty halves without CAC stickers. They sold in consecutive lots on March 16, one for $2,280 and the other for $2,640.
1909 Barber half dollar. MS-65. CAC.
- On March 1, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a CAC-approved MS-65 1909 half dollar for $2,280. On March 16, Heritage auctioned an MS-65 1909 half in an old holder without a CAC sticker for $1,440. At the Long Beach Expo in June 2018, another non-CAC MS-65 1909 half realized $1,207.20 at auction. The CAC-stickered 1909 half thus brought a premium of well over 50%.

1864 Indian cent. Bronze. MS-65 RD. CAC.
- In early March, Stack’s Bowers auctioned two bronze 1864 Indian cents that were graded as MS-65 with a PCGS designation indicating full original red color (“RD”). The 1864 with a CAC sticker realized $1,200 on March 1. The 1864 cent with the same certification, though without a CAC sticker, went for $840 three days later on March 4. The CAC coin brought a premium of more than 40%!

1870 half dollar PR-67. CAC.
- On March 14, Heritage auctioned a Proof-67 1870 half dollar, with a CAC sticker, for $18,600. In contrast, Heritage auctioned a Proof-67 1870 half dollar without a CAC sticker for $9,600 in September 2017. Another Proof-67 1870 half without a CAC sticker from the Eric Newman Collection realized $11,456.25 in November 2013, more than the previously certified coin, but considerably less than the CAC-approved coin that just sold on March 16, 2019.

1874 Liberty Head double eagle. MS-62.
- On March 14, Heritage auctioned a CAC-approved MS-62 1874 $20 gold coin for $10,200. On February 28, Stack’s Bowers auctioned an MS-62 1874 $20 gold coin without a CAC sticker for $5,760. Another MS-62 1874 $20 gold coin without a CAC sticker was auctioned for $6,900 back in October 2018.

1892-CC $1 MS-65. CAC. VAM-8.
- On March 14, Heritage auctioned two MS-65 1892-CC Morgan silver dollars in consecutive lots. One with a CAC sticker realized $7,200 and the other, which did not have a CAC sticker, sold for $4,860.

1915 double eagle, Sun-Gold MS-64.
- On March 14, Heritage auctioned a CAC-approved MS-64 1915 $20 gold coin for $5,460. Two days later, Heritage sold an MS-64 1915 $20 gold coin without a CAC sticker for considerably less, just $2,880.

1893-S $1 Fine 12. CAC.
- On March 15, Heritage auctioned a CAC-approved Fine-12 1893-S Morgan dollar for $3,842.40. Not long ago, Heritage sold a few Fine-12 1893-S Morgans without CAC stickers. On December 14, 2018, a non-CAC Fine-12 1893-S Morgan sold for $3,360. On November 11, 2018, Heritage sold two, non-CAC, Fine-12 1893-S Morgans, for $3,360 and $2,880, respectively. In June 2018, Stack’s Bowers auctioned a Fine-12 1893-S, without a CAC sticker for $3,120.

1882 Seated Liberty dime MS-63 CAC.
- On March 24, GreatCollections sold a CAC-approved MS-63 1882 dime for $231.76. In 2018, Heritage auctioned non-CAC MS-63 1882 dimes on three occasions, for $168 in July, for $186 in April, and for $180 in March.

1821 Capped Bust quarter VG-08 CAC.
- On March 24, GreatCollections sold a CAC-approved Very Good-08 grade 1821 quarter for $225.06. On January 23, 2019, Heritage sold a VG-10 1821 quarter without a CAC sticker for $132, much less than the price realized for the just mentioned CAC-approved VG-08 grade 1821 quarter.
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I’ve gotten to the point where “if” I’m buying a certified coin, I must see a CAC sticker.
Grading companies are churning through thousands of “modern” coins per day and I honestly
think the “real” coins are NOT looked at carefully enough.