This Alexander got away tonight

I've had my eyes on this one for awhile. I was the highest bidder all week, and was ready to go a little higher. Got outbid with a few seconds left.. so bid again. Still outbid! Oh well. I had about $300 ebay bucks to throw at it as well. I love the looks of this one. Sold for about $585.

 

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For $585, I would expect much much better surfaces. Unless it's a rare variety, it's totally overpriced at $585, by about $200 - at least.

 

Nothing is more infuriating than being the high bidder for days or weeks and then lose the coin at the very end---it's like someone stole it right out of your hands!!!

I love that Tet, but $585 is way higher than I would have been prepared to go...

JA just posted and said exactly what I was thinking.

 

+1

 

Is that the famous Heracles wearing a Baboon's head edition? Love that Pegasus too. As nice as it is though, that is a little overpriced. Had I seen it, I would have bid on it, but no way would I have ever put down more than around $400 on it.

 

I thought it looked like nice surfaces, and I liked some of the toning. I also liked the "fine style" and pegasus. I sold my Alexander tetradrachm the other day for about $485, so have been looking to upgrade. I thought this one was much nicer.

 

Don't get me wrong. I like the coin very much for all the reasons you stated, but not at $585. More like $300 or so. For $585 I would expect perfectly smooth surfaces, not that I mind fine reticulation on ancient silver, but not for that price.

 

I can see one on vcoins right now - better surfaces, similar grade, same type - for $375.

 

It's not a similar grade - the surfaces are much smoother. The NGC grade on the OP coin is, as usual, inflated.

 

Does not look nearly as nice to me. Not as sharp, not as well centered, etc.

 

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Fair enough. And importantly, if it doesn't "speak" to you, like the OP coin did, then it's not worth buying.

 

I do like the OP coin very much, despite the surfaces, for all the reasons listed by the OP. It has great appeal-- beyond what clinical analysis suggests. It did sell for more than expected but sometimes when a coin speaks to you that's what it takes. Hopefully @jwitten will find another "vocal" coin soon

 

I agree with @jwitten. This portrait of Alexander really caught my eye. For me, artist appeal outweighs the lack of smooth surfaces.

 

Throne looks weird.. I kinda see a little man sitting right behind the leg and....he´s happy.LOL

When you see it...

 

*rats*

jwitten => that is very sad that your sweet OP-target got away!!

Yah, it sucks when you've been watching a coin for a few days/weeks and then a sniper snags the trophy-buck at the very last second (but I guess that's all part of the game, eh?)

Oh, and I totally agree with you => that OP-example is awesome (it has great character ... sure the surfaces may be less than perfect, but the Pegasus symbol is gorgeous and the whole thing speaks to me as well)

=> good luck hunting your next coin-target

 

Cool little Pegasus, i didnt even see it the first time! This is kinda rare, no?

 

The more I view this Tet, the more it grows on me, despite the surface conditions, just as it did for you, so I would have probably convinced myself to go to about $400.00 or so....and once it hit $500 let it go---since that now approaches the two highest prices i have paid for a coin over the last 12 months; one I regret (a fine grade left facing Otho) and the other I seem to love more and more each day
(an RR denarius in EF grade).

The OP Tet does 'speak' to me

 

Like I said, I liked this one a lot more than the one I just sold for about $490. My plan with them is to throw them up on eBay with a higher price than I paid, and to enjoy them for as long as I own them. If someone comes by and pays more for it, then I go look for an upgrade and repeat the process. This was to be my upgrade.

 

Don't know about overpricing. If I see a coin I really want, I try to pay more than anybody else. Financial value is only important if you want to sell it for a profit during your lifetime.

As for artistic value, this is a striking example of hellenistic art, it shows a God with stern strength and immense might, a master of lions.
Coins are works of art, remember, and this is a top example.

@Sallent, you pinned the tail on the donkey with the Baboon's head. Is there a reference for that comparison?

 

But ebay charges 11.8% commission (more if you have just a normal account). 4.2% from paypal, then you have shipping charges and such...