Guess the Price Difference (No Cheating!)

I was successful on the first coin but not the second, which went for two increments above my highest bid. I think the price difference between these two coins is interesting. Can you guess it? They were sold about a month apart. The second coin is from the Virzi collection:


I’d love to know who the winner is. It is somewhat comforting that there is someone (or two people, in fact) who appreciate this coin as much as I do!

 

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I've never replied to an ancients thread. I know nothing about them. I am going to make an absolute fool of myself. Is it $400?

 

..i love the man faced bull coins..

 

Hmm, €2000?

 

I guess they are small denominations, right? The first one should be between £80-£150 and the second one probably between £400-£600?

I hope I didn't mess it up big time...

 

I dunno. Maybe $200 difference?

 

I'll swing the other way... $50?

 

They’re about 20mm size. Only a handful of this exact variety exists.

 

$200 difference?

 

I’m guessing something sensational.



3000 dollars?

 

My guess is 10x, like 400 vs 4000

 

Close. The difference is a bit over $4,400. I paid about $87 for mine (shipped) and the second coin hammered for $4500 (including juice). I don’t know what is crazier—the hammer price, or the fact that I would have paid that, knowing the price difference, had I the money in my coin fund!

 

Guesses:
VG $200
VF ex-Virzi $1750
diff: $1550

 

I originally estimated the first coin at about $200-400, and the second about $1500-2500.

 

Here a pic I took after a recent Roma sale. Look at the price difference. Orders of magnitude.

 

Why is the difference 870 quid? That doesn't make any sense.

 

I think you got a good deal on yours - the other is nice, but...

I saw something similar in an NAC auction last year -

Lot 461 - 3750SFr + fees:


Lot 462 - 480SFr + fees:


I bought lot 462 and it's a beauty!


ATB,
Aidan.

 

I understand the others showing no great market for rough and ugly coins but Aiden's denarius is off center but IMHO has better style and is worth nearly as much as the expensive one. I was not aware that the high rollers in the hobby cared that much about centering. That one is a surprise.

If these results don't make sense, I assume you don't buy at auction. I came to this late as usual for me but would have guessed a 3k difference with svessien who thought he was being 'sensational' when actually undershooting. Perhaps we just don't understand people who have way more money than they need and how badly they want to win. For some, 4k more or less means nothing; for others it is life and death. Most of us fall in the middle.

 

Yes - I prefer the portrait style of mine and apart from the off-centre obverse it's a nice coin by any standards. When I saw the previous lot going for as much as it did, I didn't have much hope, so was pleasantly surprised when my bid stuck.

ATB,
Aidan.

 

You’re the Tribune of the numismatic plebs, Doug.

I’m not sure I’m a believer in this 1% vs 99% society, but perhaps that’s how it is. There has always been nobility. Only now we believe that was something we got rid of.

(Sorry if that was too political)