Severus Alexander Price

I won this coin off ebay recently. It's a Severus Alexander AE Sestertius. I fell in love with the coin right when I saw the listing. (never a great idea) A few things I really liked, the details and character in the portrait, the surfaces, the reverse and the size of the coin.

Yet, I'm still really struggling with what is a fair price for a lot of these Roman Imperials.
The seller had it listed for what I thought was quite a bit high $130. So I lowballed him, or at least I thought I had by offering $80. But then he took my first offer.

So of course that leaves me wondering..did I still overpay? Here's a link to the listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300887844458?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

This dealer sells a lot of ancients. These are seller's photos, I'll post my own when the coin arrives.

Roman Imperial ae Sestertius of Severus Alexander , Providentia
Obverse: IMP ALEXANER PIVS AVG , Laureate bust right of Severus Alexander
Reverse: PROVIDENTIA AVG , Providentia standing left holding grain ears and cornucopiae

Any opinions are welcome.

 

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The old-timers will probably say you overpaid, but not me. I think it's a heck of a deal for a gorgeous coin. I love it when sellers accept a low-ball offer. It's happened to me a few times.

 

Nice coin from a favorite dealer of mine on the bay. You probably should have waited a bit cause he lists BIN and after a week of no activity they get put up for bidding.

For $80 though it think you paid retail for it.

 

Whenever you see a coin for sale, check other sites for similar prices like other Ebay buy it now sales, VCoins and other places to see what competitors are selling them for.

 

It is a nice coin for sure based on the photo.

 

I looked at this one myself. I was put of the enlarged images by small areas that look as though it has been cleaned back to the bare metal. I thought the asking price was too high. At $80 it depends on whether the areas that look to have been overcleaned turn out to be so or whether I have misread the images.

My gut feel is that you have had a good deal.
Martin

 

This seller is on my favorite lists as well, but he does generally list high enough to put me off. I dunno. You have to wonder when you make what you call a "low ball" offer that is immediately accepted. It has happened to me and probably to most of us. You always ask, "Should I have gone in with a lower offer?". Well, the simple answer is you went in with what you considered a fair deal or even a good deal for yourself and that's what was given. The coin is worth what you paid. Could you have gotten it for something less? Maybe. Are you happy with the price you got? That's the simple answer to your question.

 

It wasn't a steal but imo it was an ok price. As long as you are satisfied with the coin, that's all that matters.

 

I suppose the greater point of this thread is that it's harder to correctly gauge what a "fair" price is for Roman Imperials, as opposed to say US coins.
Where for example I can say "I paid between Greysheet bid and ask" or "I paid Redbook"

It just seems to me that the pricing info on these coins is out of date(Sear) or all over the map. What are your thoughts and experiences? What pricing references to you use?

 

I do exactly as what Gil wrote. Prices are everywhere and using the above you can get a sense of what the "value range" is for a given coin.

Thats why I sometimes feel like a pig in slop, scoring a coin for $45 and seeing everywhere else list $100+

 

Sear is as useless as all pricing guides. eBay BINS and vcoin prices don't give you a fair estimate of what a coin could sell for on the low end, because they both represent the highest possible price a dealer can ask without sounding ridiculous. I've gotten a lot of coins for half BIN or vcoin prices. You just have to ask. If the dealer says no, move on.

 

Phil that is one fine bronze. I love it, nice and chocolatly.

 

Atta boy, Brother Race!! => that's a gorgeous eye-poppin' coin!!

:high5:

I think $80 is a great price!! (man, that's basically what I spent taking the wife out for dinner last night ... easy come, easy go!! ... but you still have that pretty coin to look at => all I have left from last night's experience is a fat gut ... you definitely win)

 

Your new coin has an interesting shape (very cool coin)

 

Nonsense. You have your wife. Coins are ok, but a good wife is a treasure.

 

You're 100% correct (I was merely talkin' tough ... please don't tell my wife!!)

 

... she takes a lot of abuse from our two dogs and I, but she is always there for all of us!!

=> cheers, wife!! (you're the greatest!!)

Sidenote => you guys get a sneak-peek at Hole #4 at our Thompson Golf Course (yup, we're walkin' the dogs around the golf course ... the wife is on the golf course board)

=> that's right => she even likes to golf!! (100% winner ... JA thanks for reminding me ... I'd better be extra sweet tonight ... I lost focus => I owe ya one, brother!!)

 

How does she feel about your coins!

 

Within reason, she accepts the fact that I'm addicted to drinking, gambling and buying coins (she tugs at the reins if I get too outta control, but overall she barks, but doesn't bite!!) ...

Plus, she herself, collects ancient books and also does stained glass and other artsy-crafts ... together we're a piece-o-work!!

 

You gotta be kiddin' me, brother. You are definitely losing it in your old age. Send that young wife this way, and I'll show you how to treat her.