Out of curiosity, what page are you guys going to? The page I go to has the results of the old auction.
I don't think one should write about auctions that are not finished, but I'm glad you CoinTalkers do and did so in the past, for in that way I discovered several auctions where I immediately entered the arena and won nice coins. Frank Robinson I also discovered on CoinTalk (but I don't remember how). His descriptions are very precise (as for condition) and his photos interesting - very clear, but the colors don't match always. Today I was lucky and won my first siliqua, one of the coins I think are important for a balanced collection of 4th century Roman coins. An excellent old-fashioned seller of the very best type, Frank Robinson.
The interesting part of Frank's prices realized list is he gives not only what the winner paid but how much the winner bid so you would have had to exceed that number to have won over that bid. When the two numbers are the same. there was a tie bid that arrived after the winner. You can see where someone really, really wanted a coin and won it for a fraction of the bid placed. I get a lot of fun playing, "What did I miss on that one?" There were a couple lots that sold for $500 less than the bid. Top curiosity to me was the lot graded F+ that sold for over ten times minimum on a bid 24x minimum. I considered bidding on it but I would have been humiliated. Whether you bid or not, there is interest here and it will all go away when he posts a new sale using those same URL's.
I just watched the Mary Beard roman documentary last night and, if I remember right, the silver mines in Spain/Hispania alone allowed the empire to strike 9 million denarii a year during its height in production.
Her books are even better. Try SPQR first. It is a must read to see where modern scholarship is currently at.
I've been trying not too comment on this thread but I will say, I really enjoy Mary's work and have really enjoyed "Meet the Romans" so far. Funny enough I am listening to SPQR on audible right now (it'll be my 3rd time). Though a fairly intelligent co-worker of mine says she is prone to sensationalism, I've never caught her in exaggeration. What can I say, I'm a sucker for hyperbole...and ancient Rome!
Sensationalism is not what comes to mind when I think of Mary Beard. If anything she is a myth-buster. Someone who would call Beard a sensationalist has entirely missed the point of her treatment of Rome's foundation myth!
Thanks! I'll have to show him this. I respect him...but was a bit disappointed when he said that. Sometimes I feel that because I'm a collector and LOVE history, when in front of a group, folks will engage me with their notions of what is correct and not necessarily have put in the time to back it up. #nottosoundcocky
Well, now. I thought I had been shot down on everything, but that turns out to not have been the case. According to Frank, I won two lots and of course I had committed to buy a third at fixed price. Must say I'm very happy. I won this for $46, and am both surprised and delighted! I apparently won this for $76, despite having been previously told I had been outbid by miles. I bought this at fixed price for $6.95.
As you should be... My question is why the rider is so small here. Horses then were not usually large but this rider usually looks like a child. My example is below: