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Message:: [QUOTE="Carthago, post: 2264980, member: 76111"]Oh yes, many over the years.  I collect old auction catalogues and my shelves are filled with firms that had glorious auctions filled with wonderful delights, only to no longer offer auctions or otherwise to be lost to history.  Names such as Ars Classica (1922 ~ mid 1930's), Bank Leu, Bourgey (I think they are out of the auction business), Adolph Cahn, Bruder Egger, Glendining, Leo Hamburger, Munzen & Medaillen Basel, etc.  Some of the firms merged, the principal died, or just fell on hard times I guess.  More recent examples might be Helios which was associated with Freeman and Sear and only did a handful of auctions before going out of business.  They sold the A. Lynn Collection of Roman Coins which was really a great collection and one I have several coins from.  So yes, just like any business, they fail.  It's not an easy business either, always having to come up with new material to meet an ongoing schedule and dealing with deadbeat bidders.  Baldwins' with their Prospero Collection of Greek coins that was sold a few years ago had to go to court to enforce the bids from "The Sheik" who failed to make good on (I think) well over a million USD in bids.[/QUOTE]