Shipping delays: Don't give up hope!

Frank Robinson's most recent auction closed on December 8, and checking the winning bids showed that I had won a very nice Sasanian coin. Frank always ships promptly, and I usually receive his coins within a week of auction end. Well, the week came and went, then another, then another... I emailed Frank, who confirmed that he had shipped a package to me, and advised me to keep a lookout. Well, yesterday (January 11), I finally received a USPS envelope from Frank! It was rather crushed-looking and a bit dirty, but thanks to Frank's good packing the contents were secure. And, not only did I have the Sasanian coin, a "family portrait" drachm of Varhran II with queen and child (think @medoraman 's avatar), but I had also won a very nice little Parthian bronze of Pakoros that I had forgotten about! A nice little bonus for my patience.

So, the package took 34 days to travel about 300 miles, with no international borders intervening. I guess the moral is not to despair, packages are being delivered even if it takes a while. My longest ever shipping delay was actually not on a coin; I once bought (over eBay) a monkey skull from a seller in South Africa, and it took three months to show up in my mailbox. The package was crushed on one end... fortunately the skull was safe and intact in the un-crushed portion.

 

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Yeah, I have trying to be a nice guy lately about these, and not trying to hoover up everything I see. I own close to a dozen, and I am fine for a while on this type. I would like to get his other types, (Vahran alone, Vahran and wife, Vahran and "son"). I am still geeked about the family portrait lead piece I scored in the group lot last year. No one in the Sasanian world I have talked to has ever heard of the existence of such a coin.

 

28 days to travel 175 miles, no International borders (eBay) via USPS. So yep, don't give up hope. Things are a bit slow, but as long as it shows up, I'm happy.



Faustina II Æ Sestertius
n.d. (c. 161-175 A.D.)
Rome Mint
FAVSTINA AVG[VSTA], draped bust right / [FECV]N[DITAS] S C, Fecunditas standing right, holding scepter and infant.
RIC 1638; BMCRE 905-910.
(24.37 grams / 30 mm)

 

That's USPS for ya... I've started trading coins on Numista recently, and envelopes take months to show up. Its pretty crazy how they charge so much even though it takes so long. I wish there was a better option lol.

 

I could have walked there in 7 days! I now feel at ease. I have a 4900 euro coin stuck in the mail between San Marino and Orleans. It was mailed Dec 1/2020. Tracking states "In transit". Maybe they sent it by ship from Italy/ hope it does not hit an iceberg.

 

That is truly surprising. Here in California last month, I received a package (not a coin) from England in about a week. After one week of putting the package in an overly precautious quarantine (for the more contagious British variant of COVID-19 that was newly discovered at the time), I felt comfortable enough to open it.


The inefficiencies of the postal system can sometimes be frustrating. There were several days that we have gotten no scheduled local mail delivery at all. Such are the times. I guess patience will be necessary till we get to the other side of this pandemic.

 

Your post gives me some hope. I have a package from Germany that has been at 'origin post preparing shipment' status since mid December. Hopefully it will eventually show up.

 

Sometimes it takes a long time even if you use a courier service instead of the USPS. But that happens less frequently. Money for the USPS to hire more employees might be helpful.

 

Thanks for leaving some for the rest of us. At any rate, glad you are not like that guy that used to rage at other people for daring to bid against him.

You probably already saw it, but there's a nice Vahran with wife (no kid) drachm in the current Steve Album auction. The estimate of $7-9K is enough to chase me off, but maybe you are willing to take a chance...

 

Bought something from a European auction that shipped out 12/4, and later I bought from another European auction that shipped out 12/14. The latter I received last Thursday. The 12/4 package, nothing since being processed through a facility on 12/11 in the country of origin. I’m thinking of giving the tracking another week to update, otherwise I will then call USPS. In other news I just had a package take 12 days to travel from California to here in Florida. The tracking on that one didn’t update for over a week.

 

I just had one take 15 days to travel from Ohio to New York City. The tracking didn't update for about 10 days, showing the the package still sitting somewhere in Ohio for the entire time. I understand that these things happen, but I still can't help contrasting it with the 36 hours my last order from the UK took to reach me via DHL Express.

 

For me, it took a month on average, sometimes two, even pre-COVID. Once, a package shipped from Hungary, stamped “Prioritaire”, showed up after 6 months! Trying to collect a series of coins no dealer in your country specializes in has its share of challenges. :-(

 

Yeah, its a Gobl 57. I am not that into it, other types would suffice for me. There is also I type I want at the CNG eauction, but it has massive stress cracks across the surface from unbending it. I would be afraid it would break.

Its the chase man. If you rush it just to acquire something, you really are missing out on the fun aspect of it.

BTW, I can be jealous of what others have been able to buy, (like your coins sir and @TIF and many others), but I never begrudge them the right to buy and am happy they bring them joy. I view it as we are all brothers and sisters in this hobby, and there are plenty of coins for everyone. I saw a good show once about the difference between the art market and book market. While there are rare books, books almost by definition were something there are multiples of. Therefore, others will own what you own, and this breeds a comraderie. Art, OTOH, is a "If I own this you never can" nana booboo kind of a thing, creating competition and resentment. I am glad I am in a hobby where I can share my love of it with others and enjoy their happiness with them.

 

I too had a huge back up of packages this past December. As long as the shipper provided me with a tracking number I just sat and waited. Everything arrived the first week of January. CT members who posted similar issues helped me remain calm. I hope everyone receives everything they ordered.
COME ON 2021!

 

This fine coin from Charles VII of France arrived today, after 5 weeks. I could probably have gotten it faster if I went to France to pick it up myself. On a bicycle. Glad it’s here, and glad to hear that Parthicus and others have gotten their coins after some delay too.
And to those still waiting: Ne cédez pas au désespoir!

 

I found out my AV Bologna Scudo d'oro Pope Gergorius XIII/ sent Dec. 1/2020 from San Marino/ is still sitting in San Marino! airport/ awaiting a free plane. Well, at least I know its not MIA>

 

Frank does take extra care with Sasanians. Perhaps he has had some problems in the past. I note there is a lot of difference in metal soundness over the series. Peroz are generally tough and thick while Yazdgard II seem more often chipped than not. Extra care with a Vahran is warranted. I have seen more that one that have repaired holes which I believe may have been done before striking. Good flan preparation is an art and not all mint operations cared.



Considering the huge number of mints and dates, being a Sasanian specialist would be a serious undertaking. I enjoy the ones I have but realize there are thousands I will never see.

 

For shipments from Europe, I always insist that they send the package FedEx, NOT through the country's postal service, even if "registered" and "insured." Because, what happens when they do is that the tracking disappears once the package is handed off by Swisspost to the US Postal Service. We don't want that!

 

One thing I learned is to never really worry about anything. Worrying just makes me waste time.

This one here took several months in transit from Israel.

Diocletian
AE Follis

297 A.D., Antioch Mint, 7th Officina
11.00g, 27.0mm, 6H

Obverse: IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG,
Head of Diocletian, laureate, right

Reverse: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI,
Genius standing left, holding patera from which liquid flows, and cornucopiae, crescent over officina letter to left

Exergue: -/(crescent) over Z//ANT

Provenance: Ex. Shick Coins 2018

Reference: RIC VI Antioch 48a

 

Good to know. I ordered a coin from Shick for the first time more than three weeks ago, and he still hasn't even shipped it. When I inquired, he told me that he hasn't yet obtained the necessary export permit. I should have made myself aware of that requirement before placing the order, and probably wouldn't have bought the coin had I known. Who knows how much longer I'll have to wait for permit + shipping!