The Spanish auction firm Aureo & Calico will be conducting the "Alba Long Sale" of Roman Republican Denarii. When one navigates to their site the following (excerpted) notice is displayed: "Our upcoming auction ALBA LONGA (November the 7th) has been the target of some defamatory news. AUREO & CALICÓ informs our clients and anybody else who could feel interested that the auction in question is legal and protected by judicial resolution, and the sale will take place as planned and announced." Googling has turned up nothing for me, does anyone know the claims of this "News"?
I asked about them yesterday and their references to the FFC descriptions. I have bid on one coin in this auction and have an interest in several others, so any response to this question would be of interest to me also. I emailed them to ask where I can obtain the current bids but have received no answer. I don't know why all auction houses don't let you access current bids. I find it a waste of my time to bid and find out I was way off of the final hammer price.
I find this practice annoying as well. I hate tying up my budget only to find I was probably outbid long ago.
I agree with you. It would be so simple to publish current bids, and a service to their customers, but many large auction houses have not entered the 21st century. Sales like this are overwhelming in their offerings, and I might have intetest in a few of >30 coins in this sale at the right price, but as it is, I must guess which ones I might be able to afford. I suppose I could pay a small commission to someone who will be attending.
I have done this and it worked out well. Aside from bidding in person there is another benefit to using an agent. The agent can view the coin or coins your are interested in before the auction and let you know how the photos stackup against the coin in hand. I found this very valuable.
I've arranged for representation at the auction. It seems to be the only way to have a chance short of attendance in Spain. My agent tells me to expect brutal floor battles in this one.
The opening bids are laughably low. I have my eye on many of the lots but am not very optimistic about winning.
Yes, the opening bids are low to lure interest. Many of these will go for > 10x the opening bids. The coverage and quality is amazing though.
I got my reply from Aureo & Calico when I requested current bid information. "We never say the current bids,…" I have bid on one lot in their auction but will refreain from further bidding. I really do not like bidding blind. BobC
In their last auction I won 3 beauties...all at the low opening bid price! And even though I had bid considerably higher on a couple they were honest and only charged the minimum since I didn't go up against any opposition. Funny enough, all 3 are Roman republic as well. I'll post the pics once they arrive. So no one knows about this "defamatory news" they are talking about on their site?
When I scanned the info on this auction I missed the fact that there will be a live on-line auction in conjunction with the floor auction that one can register for on their website.
