Ask the guy who bid $1,900 on the wrong coin anything

Had my eyes on a seated quarter proof in today's stacks auction. It's current bid was $1,200 and I was willing to go to $1,600 + BP. I had the auction on in the background checking in from time to time as mine approached while doing some paperwork. Saw it coming up soon and of course the UPS guy comes in and rings the bell. I run over and sign for the package and run back to the computer to hear "I have $1,200, who has 13?". So I think "just in time" and bid up to my $1,600 and win the lot. Then I see the proof I wanted pop up on my screen for bidding and instantly realize I just bid on the lot before it. LOL

Both lots had start bids of $1,200. Just my luck.

So please use this thread to cheer me up with stories of your biggest mess ups, or compliment how absolutely beautiful my new accidental 78-CC is and how you would have paid double for it easy.

Here it is, really is a nice coin but just a little annoyed from the circumstances it became mine.

NGC MS64

 

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That's almost as bad as the guy who missed putting in an decimal point on a $150.00 bid.

 

(Utter disbelief and shocked in horror face)...


But hey at least you like the coin Ibetasilverdollar.


Thanks,
Jacob

 

Yep that's what I told baseball. I covered my eyes and slowly moved them aside to uncover what I just accidentally bought. It could have been WAY worse. I'll give this one a nice home for awhile, maybe it was meant to be.

 

Haha yeah it could've been a 20$ coin that you bid 1200 on. Maybe it was fate .


Also hommer I'd like to hear that story if there's a thread on it.



Thanks,
Jacob

 

No thread, at least don't think so. Was really busy one day and had lost bids on coins several times because I would get busy and not be able to get back to the auction in time. I tuned back in to this one at the last minute to see how I had fared and noticed that the bid that I had entered earlier was way way more than even the best specimen was probably worth, luckily there were no shill bidders in on it, and it only cost me about $20 more than I wanted to spend.

 

Did you win the coin that you wanted or did you have to pass on it?

And maybe you are just onto the new trend and this coin will be double when you go to sell!

 

Very nice accidental 78-CC.

Several years ago, I was bidding online at an Archives International Auction.
Was keeping track of my purchases on a spreadsheet, at the end of the auction
the online records showed I bought a Chinese note for $850.00 + BP.
I didn't remember bidding on it so I called Bob Schwartz the guy who's been running these auctions for years. He told me to send it back after it arrives. Well, my auction wins arrive and the $850.00 Chinese note. Turns out I really liked the note but I'd spent a good bit on my winning bids and didn't want to spend another $850.00+ so I sent it back after a few weeks.
No problem.

 

Yes, what was the object of your desire?

 

No. I had to pry my fingers away from the mouse to not bid on it. It went for $250 less than the coin I ended up with too. Sigh.

Here is a link @TheFinn https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-8OL3Q

1879 DCAM, the only DCAM for that entire year, population 1. Would have been cool to own but maybe the winner had a max above mine and never would have had it anyways.

 

It is a beautiful coin.

 

Nice Coins both of them.
I would like to own either.
I put a $150 bid on ebay but change my mind and backspaced out the bid and put in $120 hit OK, price popped up hit OK again only to find out - I hit the space bar instead of the back space and the bid just rolled out of the window and I ended up with a $1.5Million bid for 30 seconds, for a coin that sold for $88.00. Again no last minute bids to run it up. Taught me to close out the window if I ever ever mess up on a bid. It could have been much worse.

 

Your coin is a beauty!!! You did well imo.

 

I'll give you more than one....

Most recently I was not paying attention to an online auction, and just had it and the barker in the background. I have an affinty for cheap Trade dollars, and I hear there's an 1875 on the block. I look quickly at the auction, and can see it's been cleaned, but it's around AU. I keep doing what I'm doing, and half-heartedly listen to the auction. It's going CHEAP. I double check the guides, and I put a value of about $500-700 on the coin. It's still stupid cheap. I jump in, and (fortunately) the other bidder backed off at a number that was a lot less then I was willing to go. While I'm not thrilled to have a harshly cleaned 1875 Trade, i'm ok with the price when the hammer came down. Only afterwards did I realize it was an 1875-S, worth maybe what I paid. Talk about a buzzkill.

Same scenario - listen to the auction, but not paying close attention because what I'm waiting for is way down the catalog. A '55 Franklin is on the block. Whoopie. Again, it's going cheap (it was around $12 at the 'going twice'), and I hear "Bugs Bunny". I already had 3 Bugs Bunny Franklins, but in MS for $12 or so, I'll bid. Ended up buying it for $24. Then I see that this one is not a Bugs Bunny, but the barker was referencing how the '55's are known for the Bugs Bunny.

I'm sure there are more, but those 2 quickly came to mind.

Oh, price on the Trade dollar? You tell me. I have it going as a guess the price in the Details discount thread. Y'all should come and play.

 

Too bad it's not a 70cc

 

@IBetASilverDollar . Thanks for sharing your story. I feel for you.

But to cheer you up, the coin you won looks very nice.

 

Nice carson

 

Looks like a lot of scratches on that '79. On holder?

 

Have never bid on the wrong coin, but have overbid because of not doing my homework or made bad assumptions. Once bid and won a two cent piece that had a weak strike in one area of the obverse. The photos weren't that great and I assumed that the affected area was OK. Bad assumption!

I generally avoid bidding live or even watching when coins that I have pre-bid come on the block. It's too easy to bid the wrong lot or overbid the correct lot. Generally wait until the session is over, then see how I did.

There are exceptions: 1. have a max amount to spend in an auction but there are more coins that I like than the budget allows. If miss on initial coins, then immediately enter bids on remaining ones (but try to do so before they come on the block). 2. two or more nearly identical coins in a row and only want one. If miss with the first, need to bid live on subsequent one.

Cal

 

UPDATE:

After my screw up I emailed stacks right away seeing if they ever contact the under bidder in a spot like this. After a few hours I just decided that wasn't right and paid for the coin and sent them another email to disregard my original one because it was my fault.

Well fast forward to now and they called and said the under bidder was real bummed to miss on the coin originally and would happily still take it. So he's getting his coin and is very happy about it and I'm bailed out for my carelessness. Huge thanks to Stacks they're even making the consignor whole which I would have happily done but in exchange they'll be getting my next consignment as well as my next purchase. Great company to work with!