Terrible misfortune at auction: What happens when one is careless

I was trying to bid on a RR denarius of M. Lucius Rufus at the Spartan Auction hosted by Agora Auctions. I got distracted and noticed a day later that I was bidding on another coin instead. Apparently this was the coin next to the M. Lucius Rufus, so I must have somehow switched to that one and entered the bid. I did not want to call Agora Auctions to have them invalidate my bid, because being relatively new there I don't think it looks good. I would just have to ride this out and hope someone bid $5 extra so they could take this unwanted coin and free me to bid on the M. Lucius Rufus, which is the one I wanted.

The auction ended today and no one did. Come on people, only one bid and no one could be bothered to bid $5 extra for it? I literally won on the opening bid.

So here we are, the hiddeous coin I now have to live with as a lesson that I should be more careful next time. I was dreaming of a nice Roma obverse, and instead I have this...apparently Juno...with the face only a mother could love. Just look at those lips and that chin

Maybe it will grow on me eventually, I don't know, but I'm not too pleased about this right now.



Lot 158. ROMAN REPUBLIC. L. Thorius Balbus, 105 BC. AR Denarius.
ROMAN REPUBLIC. L. Thorius Balbus, 105 BC. AR Denarius (3.91 gm). Head of Juno Lanuria wearing goat skin headress / Bull charging right. Thoria.1. VF+.

 

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I think it is a great coin. Should you feel that you no longer need it, feel free to donate to an eager RR fan.

Seriously, it is a great coin. No worries, lesson learned, and a wonderful coin as the consolation prize!

 

Remember I am 12

 

I'm just ticked because I really wanted the M. Lucius Rufus I was bidding on. It had quite an interesting portrait of Roma. I can't quite tell you what it was about it, but when I looked at that portrait, it just spoke to me somehow.

This Thorius Balbus was just not on my radar at all, so I basically have a coin I might not have purchased for a good long while, if at all.

Maybe I'm overreacting...I just wanted the other coin so bad. Well, whatever, I'm sending payment to Agora for this one, so I'm living with it! Maybe it will grow on me once the dissapointment of bidding on the wrong coin wears off.

 

i think it's a pretty nice looking coin sallent, i wouldn't be upset much...depending on how much you paid for it.

 

Alcohol is a hell of a drug

Just jokes. If I had the cash I would not mind making mistakes like this, as long as they were coins I wouldn't mind having. If you get tired of it, please think of your friend in the next county over (shipping would be next to nothing!).

 

I may have overpaid by $20 looking at CNG Auctions (hard to tell as their prices on these fluctuate quite a bit), which would explain why no one else bid on this. I'm not going to cry over $20.

What I will cry about is not getting the other coin

 

I like it Sallent, but I understand your angst. You did the right thing not invalidating your bid.

 

I've done this before, and I've never hesitated to contact the auction house to delete my erroneous bid. They would be very understanding, particularly if (a) you caught it early to minimize the chilling effect on other bidders, and (b) you intend to bid on another coin instead.

 

Been there done that . Didn't want to ruin the reputation I had with the auctioneer, so ended up keeping it. Still haven't found the correct attribution for it as it wasn't fully attributed by the auctioneer either. Not fond of the shroff marks on the coin...

Mughal Empire: Akbar I (1556-1605) AR Rupee (KM-80.x)

 

I agree with some of the others. If you'd contacted them right after placing the bid, they would more than likely have retracted it for you. We're all human, after all.

 

Let me understand. You prefer a common Roma and chariot to a Juno and bull.

There is no M. Lucius Rufus but I assume you refer to Lucilius Rufus aka Lucilia 1 which I consider interesting because it bears the PV mark for public silver. The Thorius is also a common coin but popular since he has the bull which refers to his family name and because the moneyer is mentioned by Cicero as a really extravagant high liver. Most people would consider the ISMR legend of some interest over PV but that bull is, however common, unlike anything else on Roman coins. I suppose you read where Seaby declared the bull one of the most common Roman Republican coins but the additional interest of the type caused him to rate both at the same price. I'd suspect you should find someone who would trade for it. I would but I have the type and no desire to specialize in them. We all hate it when we pay too much but most of us pay too much most of the time because we buy from full service dealers who provide rather little service. I suggest you join in on the CT ancients Secret Santa next year and send the bull a packing to someone who would love it.


Not knowing how much the lesson cost, it is hard to say that this was a good educational experience but the fact is that coin lessons frequently remind you of the tuition you once paid to get you into the profession that now pays for coins....and neverending coin lessons.

 

Salient - I've done the same. Drinking and bidding is usually the issue for me.

I don't think it's a bad coin at all fwiw.

 

I think its a great looking coin!

 

Just thinking how this could have gone SO MUCH wrong...come on! It is a really nice addition to any collection, even if it was by mistake!

Imagine if next coins was a modern one!

Seriously, I like this type.

 

Well, I have two of them. So, they ain't too bad of a coin.

 

I don't know that you should be too upset. The Balbus is a nice coin and a great design IMHO. In fact I just bought another I will show once it arrives. I don't know what you paid, but if you want to unload it, let me know. If the price is right, I pay you for it. The one I just got was $57 after auction and shipping fees.

 

If you are telling me my coin is $57, I would just die now. I was hoping it was closer to $100-$120. If it isn't then this was a very painful lesson in carelessness indeed.

As I don't intend to sell my coins, at least inflation will take care of the problem in due time (20 years or so)

 

Its still a nice coin, I wouldn't mind having one in my collection. And besides, pretty sure you can unload somehow if you really don't want to keep it.

 

I like the Balbus. It has a lot of eye-appeal. If you already had the type I could understand the huge disappointment - since you don't, just keep it and enjoy that fine looking beauty. The reverse has a lot going for it.