Frank Robinson Bargain List

Did anyone else pick up anything from the Bargain List that Frank Robinson put out yesterday? It seems a quaint throwback to sell coins off a fixed price list with zero pictures and only text descriptions in this day and age, but there's an element of fun to these that I find appealing. Frank's descriptions are often amusing, and usually quite accurately describe the condition of the coins. Also, most of the coins are priced under $20, so while there's some risk involved, they don't burn a huge hole in my pocket and I always try to pick up a few coins whenever he puts these lists out.

I was lucky this time around and saw the list a few minutes after he e-mailed it. When I checked back on it 12 hours later, only about 10% of the 250 or so coins on it had not yet sold. I picked up 9 coins and I'm really looking forward to receiving them so that I can actually see what I bought .

Here are a few from some of his past bargain lists. These two were under $10 each. Gallienus with retrograde field mark unlisted in RIC.


Constantius Gallus AE2 Fallen Horseman from the Alexandria mint.


Of course, sometimes the gamble doesn't quite pay off. This Postumus sestertius was $20. It's been a little hard to love and even harder to photograph, but still, at least I have a Postumus sestertius!


Please feel free to share your own!

 

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Haha, I don't blame you. It does seem hopelessly out of step with the times, but considering he cleared out the majority of $3-4k worth of bargain bin stock in half a day, it appears to be working for him!

 

This reminds me of a table at a local coin show. You pay $10 to throw dice and get a lot of coins based on what you roll. The "guarantee" is that every lot has at least $10 worth of coins in it. You can't see the coins prior to throwing the dice.

A lot of other attendees shun the game, but for some strange reason, I always play. Drives my 13 year old crazy. He hates it. Still, I can't help myself.

 

I have bought from Frank's bargain list and his world coin list multiple times. His descriptions are great but it is, ultimately, still sight unseen. Sometimes you need to roll the dice. The worst case scenario for me was that I would get the coin, not like it, have to snap a couple pictures and resell it. I usually recouped my cost or at most lost a couple dollars (aw shucks).

For me the excitement of the chance outweighs the sight unseen.

 

Clearly, we seem to be in the minority in the numismatic community, or at least are in the minority that will admit we like the excitement of the change. Those of us like @zumbly will simply have to admit we have a problem and live with it!

 

In the days before digital photos of all coins, Frank's descriptions led the pack of dealers who would handle low priced coins. The problem today is that $20 coins are not as pretty as they were 30 years ago. That Postumus sestertius is a dog and still better than what you might expect for $20. Today, it has turned around. Frank's descriptions are still good but his photo skills could use work. It is your job to learn to read every seller's descriptions and photos so you get what you expect and are not fooled by flowery lies and fuzzy photos. Over 3/4ths of the coin I have bought in 2017 have come from sellers I first met before 1990. I am comfortable with them. As they drop off, I may have to change or just stop buying because too many starting today don't provide the enjoyment I seek. I suggest you start now and patronize today's sellers that you hope will still be in business when you are old and set in your ways.

 

I guess that's about the long and short of it.

 

I bought a Tetradrachm, medieval and a provincial from the latest list.

I almost got the Nero & Philip I Egypt Tets but I have enough of those two and didn't want anymore, especially since they were the common types.

I'm usually happy with the stuff I have gotten. I especially buy off the world list. $100s have been spent on it.

 

True, true, and true!

And then, there was this one from his latest list that somehow managed to incorporate both a good description and some flowery lies...

"70. PARTHIA, "Unknown King", Ar Drachm, Sellwood 30.16, Bust l./archer styd r; F+, nrly centered on large flan, good metal with lt tone, portrait quite strong. A beautiful coin, very tremendous, believe me, OK? I love this coin, honestly; and you know, I'm very smart, and I have the greatest coins, folks. Those other dealers are losers. And so ugly. Sad. Am I right, OK? Make your collection great again. And Mexico will pay for it! 23.95"

 

I readily admit it. Single beautiful coin in an auction or decent group lot that promises a lot of fun. I know where I am going the majority of the time.

 

Back in the 1980s-1990s I had very good luck with ancients bought from un-illustrated lists. But I wasn't buying a lot. eBay has kind of ruined me for that sort of thing now.

But that Parthia "unknown king" drachm that zumbly quoted from Mr. Robinson's list sounds real attractive to me (and amusing). I paid $24.95 for one of those on eBay in 2013, based on some blurry seller photos:

 

It might seem odd to those who started collecting recently in the era of high quality photos. I have bought coins from Frank since the 80's when few lists were illustrated at all. Good and accurate descriptions were essential and Frank is pretty good at it. Usually his lists sell out within a few hours. If you dont order within minutes of his announcement you likely will not get anything.

Also, Frank is notoriously cheap, so typically you know the prices are pretty good overall.

 

Bigly this!

Erin

 

I'm going to get added to his mailing list, if possible and in many circumstances have no qualms buying from a written description. Even though I didn't collect coins at the time, I remember life before smartphones, the Interweb, etc. Mail or phone orders always had a reminder to "please allow 6-8 weeks for shipping." Imagine that today.

 

..but i bet your 13 YO likes it when you both go to a carnival ^^

 

He sure does.

 

O, he sounds very entertaining

 

...hurry hurry hurry, step right up folks..