Most out of whack starting price in a current auction

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by tartanhill, Dec 31, 2020.

  1. tartanhill

    tartanhill Well-Known Member

    I am sometimes amazed at what some auction houses post as a starting price on some of their coins. When someone tells me that his/her coin has some outrageous value, I generally say, "Yep, he really is in love with that coin." Love being that unexplainable force that overrides thought and reason. The coin below is a prime example of a much overrated coin that someone would really, really have to love in order to bid even the opening price. Read the description and you can see the love dripping through.

    [​IMG]

    ATTICA. Athens. AR Tetradrachm (17.21 gms), ca. 465/2-454 B.C. NGC EF, Strike: 5/5 Surface: 3/5. Fine Style. Horn Silver.
    Starr Group V; HGC-4, 1595. Transitional type. Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena right; Reverse: Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent to left; all within incuse square. This attractive and alluring specimen offers a charming gray tone that is off-set by some delightful sandy deposits around the devices. The strike--especially upon the reverse--is very well centered, and the details in the face of Athena are bold and expressive. Some minor roughness is noted at the back of her head, but it does not get in the way of the beauty that this early piece commands.

    Ex: Stack's (1/2010) Lot # 124.

    Estimate: $4000.00- $6000.00

    I don't see this as a Starr Group V for starters, and it is amazing how the faults are either written off as negligible or turned into positives. With all of the beautiful owls that are available on the market right now, this is probably one that I would not even consider at a much lower price. If you've seen some absurdities, go ahead and post them.
     
    Egry and ominus1 like this.
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  3. tartanhill

    tartanhill Well-Known Member

    Starting Price: on 31 Dec 2020
    EUR 1 962
    GBP 1 757
    CHF 2 122
    ">2400 USD
    Current bid: None
     
  4. DiomedesofArgos

    DiomedesofArgos Well-Known Member

    tartanhill likes this.
  5. +VGO.DVCKS

    +VGO.DVCKS Well-Known Member

    ...For medievals, US ebay generally is good for real hooters (in the bad sense), on an Unrelenting, Zombie-like basis. With listings (mostly for crap) with titles like, "CRUSADERS TEMPLAR CROSS CROSS." The prevailing attitude being, 'I don't know what the h-ll it is, but I Want $100 for it.' ...Someone is currently listing a denier of Bohemond III of the Principality of Antioch. Slabbed (Grrr), with a Label, Right There On the freaking Slab, that says "King Bohemond III." ...Right, and for Too Much Money.
    Once in a blue moon, you can still make the sellers' (I cringe at the word, 'dealers') ignorance work for you. But mostly, their default mode is to want more than anything is worth ...That literally because they don't know any better.
     
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2020
  6. tartanhill

    tartanhill Well-Known Member

    Thanks. I didn't check that sale but that price seems even more over the moon. Does anyone see something I'm missing about the value of this coin?
     
    DiomedesofArgos likes this.
  7. AncientJoe

    AncientJoe Well-Known Member

    This was a bit pricey:

    2020-12-16.png

    (Admittedly caused by a bug and since fixed but even Jeff Bezos would think twice about that one!)
     
  8. kazuma78

    kazuma78 Supporter! Supporter

    That was before the recent massive owl hoard was found- these were much more expensive before then I believe. I think this attributes to the 2010 sale price.
     
    DiomedesofArgos and rrdenarius like this.
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