Here's a Mighty Dupondius of Vespasian

Beautiful coin, Steve-O!

 

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If I were still collecting Roman portraits in bronze, I might bid on this Galba: provincial, but with Latin legend, nearly sestertius size, and great portrait. It closes in 25 minutes!
http://romanumismatics.com/auction/lot/0282/

 

I saw it nice coin....go for it...

I bought one...just 20 min ago !! at min.

 

these I also had.....damm I am surprised all Iberian go very high...

Lot 1: Spain, Ventipo Æ31. Mid-second century BC. Helmeted male head right / Warrior, holding spear in extended right han...

Estimate: £150.00

Current Bid: £850.00

High Bidder: Mailbidder0511

Bids: 21

Ending: 09/01/2016 at 13:00:00

Online bidding for this item has ended.

 

Cyrrhus said "I saw it nice coin....go for it..."

I sold all my Roman sestertii years ago...only Greek silver now...

 

buy Greek then !! )

 

Sardonic smile now that he feels like he is becoming a god.

 

I was very busy and didn't fully vet the Roma auction so I didn't bid on anything. A quick post-auction review shows that Roma (or their consignors) are continuing their unfortunate practice of setting high estimates. With opening prices set at 80% of estimate, that means many unsold lots. It was particularly bad a few auctions ago and I hoped they would reassess their strategy. Apparently not.

I don't think the concurrent NY auctions played a huge role in today's very tepid Roma auction. I think it was the high estimates/openings. The GBP-USD exchange rate is fairly favorable at the moment and that didn't seem to help Roma today.

A quick breakdown (may have some slightly inaccurate counts because I was distracted during counting):

Total number of lots: 758
Lots unsold: 266 (35%)
Lots which sold for opening bid: 150 (30% of sold lots went for opening)

 

Indeed. I have noticed this and no longer bid there. The min price is often close to retail and once you add the commission, forget it. They list after the auction at the 80% figure anyway without commission.