Do you think that Roma Numismatics overestimate the value of their lots?

Roma Numismatics are one of the best in business in my humble opinion. I have bought from other auctions houses of course, but almost never got the proper service. Maybe i am old-fashioned, but i believe the attitude as customer service is also important and have the power on its own. Yes, their estimates and realized prices come a little steep - i assume this is due to the higher interest shown by customers causing them to outbid each other. It's not easy to win an auction on their platform, i admit. I won only twice, but so far i am very happy and think that i will buy again in the future.

The way these prices are formed is not up to the auction house, but by the interest shown through bidding. For example, i am watching the auctions of Leu Numismatik for some time and they have really low estimates - most of the coins are between 50 and 200 range (CHF), but they almost always go for several times over estimate. You can see in the reports that is very standard hammer price to be at least 200% over estimated value. It is the market who set the end prices, not the auction house. VCOINS are also offering firm prices from different dealers, but they are extremely overvalued - it's way cheaper just to buy from an auction.

Bottom line, they might have a little bit of higher estimates for some coins, but if there is no market, they will not buy, right? Nothing good comes cheap.

 

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That may have been true several years ago, but I would strongly dispute the truth of that generalization now. What with the explosion in auction prices for ancient coins and the addition of the buyer's premium (often 20%, from what people have said). I always compare the retail prices asked at VCoins with recent auction prices listed at acsearch for coins of the same type in similar condition, and although I'm willing to pay some premium for the certainty of a retail purchase from a reputable dealer, most of the time in the last year or so what I've paid has been comparable to what I would currently have to pay at auction. If the price isn't comparable (even after adding my "certainty premium"), I won't buy the coin. I don't like the auction process, except for old-fashioned mail bid auctions like Frank Robinson's, or "buy or bid" sales like Harlan J. Berk's. (For one thing, I don't necessarily trust myself not to get carried away!)

 

I definitely agree with you. I will always put some limit to my bids, otherwise i can got carried away also and done it
It's indeed incorrect from my side to generalize the services offered by coin dealers at VCOINS or some other place for this matter. It is just my personal experience with almost all coins that i watch in VCOINS and MA-shops. I just find it cheaper to go with auctions. My first coin was Michael VII histamenon and with all premiums and costs, got it for about EUR 450-500 in XF condition. Now, at VCOINS they offer XF from $800 up. I know this cannot be standard or criteria, but at least in my case, i always find the auction cheaper. But for sure it's all very subjective and it goes vice-versa.

 

Yes, in many cases I think they do.
After the market went covid-hot, I’m seeing quite a few sellers that do.

 

I like Roma, one of my favourite auctions but the shipping charges are overpriced. £15 for postage in the UK even though its actually £2.20 for first class signed for.