Ancient and Medieval Coins Canada - First Auction

For Gavin:
Compare your Constantine RIC 7 to my two losers. Both of mine are the same issue but from shops 5 and 3 for the two Augusti that issued the coin. Both of mine are R3 which is as common as this issue gets. Very few people care about R5. Very few people care about officina numbers in general or the 4+5 business in particular. I am glad the coin found a home where its educational value might be appreciated. If you clean yours, it will be as ugly as mine.

Constantine RIC 7 $5 25 years ago


Licinius RIC 8 $10 20 years ago

 

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I agree. I will willingly forego that.

 

I couldn't agree more. 120% of the low starting prices still seems more than fair to me, and it would be absurd to expect @Severus Alexander to hold a post-auction sale in which he would loose money.

Maybe, a 120% post-auction sale might even be an interesting idea for the future. It could act as an incentive for price-conscious buyers to actually put in bids above the starting price instead of afterwards scavenging the unsold lots for interesting bargains. (I, at least, confess to having done so in other auctions.)

Yes, there is! We already exchanged messages about two unsold pick bin items, but a list would still be greatly appreciated.

 

On Biddr you can go to Closed Auctions and click Results. The unsold lots have a dash instead of the hammer price. The lot numbers aren't hyperlinked but you can still pull up the catalog and see the lot.

 

Please explain what is wrong with doing this. I have bought unsold lots before. Typically one pays the starting price plus the fees which is exactly the same as bidding and winning for the first bid. Just what is wrong with buying coins no one else wanted?

 

There is nothing at all wrong with that-- no one is chastising people who buy unsold lots. Orielensis' comment was specific to the unique circumstances of Sev's consignment incentive. Wanting to have low starting prices which might make some consignors uneasy, he guarantees the consignor at least 120% of the start price, meaning if a lot sells but for opening bid or less than 120% of opening bid, the difference comes out of his pocket.

It makes sense for any post-auction consigned lots to command a price that is 120% of opening, unless the consignor agrees to a lower price-- otherwise it would be double jeopardy for Sev.

 

Ha. When that coin comes in, the only thing I’m doing to it is photographing it with my system and popping it in a tray next to its rougher, uglier brothers. I have already cleared a place for it.

 

Just as @TIF said, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this. I should have expressed myself more clearly. When I confessed to 'auction scavenging,' this was accompanied by a little smirk because that's what I regularly do at the many auctions where I can't afford to really bid. Since the starting bid can be understood as the lowest price the consignor and the auction house are willing to accept, I consider that way of buying coins perfectly fine and fair.

But, as @TIF said, the AMCC auctions work a bit differently. Severus Alexander, at his own risk, offers starting bids below the minimum that the consignor would accept. Since he does so, it's completely fair that he sells unsold lots at this minimum and not at the starting price. Therefore, there is a realistic chance of getting better bargains in the auction than in the post-auction sale. And, considering that Severus Alexander takes the risk of the low starting price, I'd find it totally okay if he advertised this 'chance of better bargains' before his auctions, and thus used it to attract the number of bids that he needs to break even or make a little profit.

That was my only point in the post above and I hope it is clearer now. I didn't mean to offend anyone!

 

Thanks for the clarification no offence taken.

 

I have to echo what others have already about having been given the opportunity to pick up some excellent coins from the @jamesicus collection. I didn't win all that I had bid on, but am mighty chuffed at scoring the handsome green Commodus VICT BRIT sestertius as well as the excellent Carausius PAX AVGGG (my first proper coin of Carausius!). Thank you, James!

 

You are most welcome, @zumbly - and thank you! It pleases me immensely that those coins have found a really good home.

 

Since we're talking about jamesicus coins, I have to admit that I fell in love with this long-necked, beaky nosed Constantius and managed to snag it for myself:



I hope everyone will forgive me for bidding in my own auction. I must say that the free delivery is nice. The buyer's fee causes less of a sting too!

Thanks, @jamesicus, for giving AMCC the opportunity to do this. You've made a lot of collectors very, very happy.

 

So that's what you meant! Fine, fine... I suppose I'll forgive you for this one... in time.

J/K.... I would have loved to have won it, too, but I'm happy you managed to pick something up that you liked during what must have been a very stressful and exciting day for you.

 

Your neck just isn't long enough nor your nose beaky enough, Z!

 

Congratulations @Severus Alexander, looks like it all went very smoothly for you.
I am still kicking myself for not submitting some coins but was hoping to pick something up, unfortunately there wasn't anything in the Provincial section that got my juices flowing
No point in me griping about it, I know what I will be doing in the New Year

 

Congratulations @Severus Alexander for a fine first auction. Unfortunately, I was stuck at a coin show all day so couldn't participate in the live auction. I only bid on and 1 item and feel fortunate to have won it. Actually, I feel a little embarrassed that I won it for the opening bid.

This isn't an area that I usually collect from, just bid on it because I like it.

Thank you @Justin Lee for consigning it.

CARTHAGE
c. 300-264 BCE
Æ Shekel
5.15g, 19mm.
Obv: Wreathed head of Tanit left.
Rev: Head of horse right; Punic ‘ to right.

MAA 57x; Müller, Afrique 286; SNG Copenhagen 151.

 

Good choice Chris, that has better style than most. I was tempted to bid on that one.

John

 

@Severus Alexander, you get my message, dude?

I’m still on cloud 9 from my win.

Erin

 

I'm very surprised this coin didn't interest anyone for 30CAD:

 

I am very pleased you ended up with that coin Sev - I always liked it for the unique depiction of Constantius and I know you did also. Again, it was a super Auction in every respect - you did yourself proud!