I had collected for quite awhile before deciding that I would only collect coins approved by CAC (except in special situations). The decision was based on several reasons but one in particular. I bought one gold coin and did all the right things. Worked with one of the best dealers in the country. Viewed it in hand. Of course it was slabbed. Great eye appeal. Price seemed very fair. At some point I send my first 20 coins in to CAC and I "knew" this one would sticker. Others did but this one came back with a note saying "puttied"! Everyone is different but I did not want a puttied coin in my collection. I also realized what I was doing needed an added layer of scruitny--CAC. It didn't mean I still wouldnt view coins myself, look for eye appeal, work with dealers, etc but CAC became a requirement for me.
So I thought going this route would help with avoiding coins that were doctored. But there was an added benefit to my new criteria--- I learned patience! I collect gold and proof gold. CAC is really tough on these. Before if there was a tough date and it came up for sale I would usually makes excuses to buy it since I knew that date was hard to find. I would say things like "well it's not all there but it's better than nothing" or "well the price is a bargain" , etc. Next thing you know you have a bunch of coins that are exceptions.
When I switched to CAC only I quickly learned that the gold coins I collected simply did not show up very often with CAC approvoal. I was tempted regularly with non CAC examples but held firm and waited. I learned patience. I know because of CAC I avoided alot of mistakes. Best of all, taking my time I built a collection with no compromises.
Comments
I maintain quality is based on enjoyment and satisfaction of ownership and not market preferences about patina. There are collectors that have collections of nothing but holed coins that are amazing, they will never cac and they are not exceptions. I agree price is wrapped up in market preferences and there is a rush towards perfection but you could have a collection full of mistakes equity wise with a set of perfection and if you sell wrong while being too focused on the money side of the hobby you will not enjoy it.
I guess that was my point, impatience to me is sacrificing one or both of those and getting those out of alignment. Not necessarily waiting for coin perfection constantly if one is prepared to engage in the two way market.
fun should come for engagement and learning where both take compromise sometimes and not just on the pay up side. Arguably my favorite Coin is one of my worst. But buddies and I discovered, researched and conversed endlessly about its Arcane die pairing. This type of perfection (engagement & learning) is what I think brings out the best in hobbiest, but there are many ways to play a fiddle.
I have purchased some gold that stickered, even some that gold beaned, but also a number that didn’t. Either way, I learned something from every coin submitted.
1. Don’t understand the concept of gold being puttied, or;
2. Convince themselves (right or wrong) that the non CAC coin they added to their collection absolutely had not been puttied!
Steve
If/when NGC and PCGS are reviewing puttied coins that have “turned” in the holder, they’re likely to defect it, just as CAC is. The major difference is that CAC can simply decline to sticker a puttied coin, whereas NGC and PCGS are in a different position.