Heritage Auctions

[Accumulator 52]

Has anyone experience of buying through the US site Heritage Auctions? I'm on their mailing list and ocassionally view the offerings but have never bid. I imagine that GB coins tend to be slabbed and usually go for higher prices than in UK auctions, but I may be completely wrong? They certainly have some nice coins passing through their hands.

[Rob 3,152]

Has anyone experience of buying through the US site Heritage Auctions? I'm on their mailing list and ocassionally view the offerings but have never bid. I imagine that GB coins tend to be slabbed and usually go for higher prices than in UK auctions, but I may be completely wrong? They certainly have some nice coins passing through their hands.

They are ok and bidding seems to be all above board. As with other US auctions, they are a good place to buy rarities which haven't been given a big slab number because this determines the price most of the time.

Any items won will be shipped to the UK by courier. It used to be that they used USPS with the nonsensical claim that the item was only tracked once it reached the UK. This I found out after the unique Freeman 689A and another pattern halfpenny (4 known) went missing in the post . As it happened, the two coins eventually made their way back to Heritage 7 months later and I received a phone call asking if I still wanted them. Since then, any item over $250(?) and shipped overseas has to go courier with the attendant customs fees and larger carriage bill (so add 5% plus $30 shipping to the total), but that is a small price to pay for not losing the irreplaceable. Credit where it is due.

[Peter 615]

Over $821,000,000 worth of business in the last 12 months.

I have seen some lovely coins but never bid.

I have never seen negative posts about them on any forum.

Worth a punt if they have something you want.

[argentumandcoins 70]

I have had several good buys from them over the years. I have also found (like Rob) that they tend to miss major rarities and just give a general Spink number

[Accumulator 52]

Thanks guys. I'll keep a closer look at their upcoming auctions from now on!

[VickySilver 830]

Yes, quite a bit to look at occasion. I suspect there are many "lurkers" looking them over. Slabs with big numbers go for very large sums, and the economics of it basically influence US collectors of British material to use their services rather than worry about getting the coins across the pond for a London (or other) sale. I have gotten a few bargains by watching very carefully. I have not bid for some while but have in the past come away, like Rob, with some treasures.

I have noticed that there are occasional price differences at the same TPG grade level wherein an PCGS graded coin, say in "65", will be listed earlier and go for more than an NGC identical coin also graded "65" and not visibly inferior. My suggestion: if it is a rarity with a high grade number, be prepared to leave it alone unless you want to get a bloody nose! Ouch!

[Colin G. 147]

I have also purchased from them a couple of times, as Rob says brace yourself for the postage costs, but even they are not too high really. No complaints from me to date

Edited July 18, 2012 by Colin G.

[Rob 3,152]

I have also purchased from them a couple of times, as Rob says brace yourself for the postage costs, but even they are not too high really. No complaints from me to date

Before they required packages over a certain value to go by courier the shipping price was $10-15, but $30 (£20) isn't that much to pay for piece of mind. I have no doubts that their policy changed after my lots went missing because I asked them bluntly if they could prove it had been shipped and the answer was no. To put something in the postal system that is only tracked when it reaches the destination country is crass. Say they ship my parcel with Manchester on the address label and it goes to Manchester, New Hampshire. It could never arrive in the destination country and presumably goes into a bag labelled 'do something with these' as there would be no requirement for tracking whilst still in the US. I'm actually glad that they have upped the price and the service offered, even if it does cost another 5% plus. As with everything else in life, you get what you pay for.

[Colin G. 147]

I have also purchased from them a couple of times, as Rob says brace yourself for the postage costs, but even they are not too high really. No complaints from me to date

Before they required packages over a certain value to go by courier the shipping price was $10-15, but $30 (£20) isn't that much to pay for piece of mind. I have no doubts that their policy changed after my lots went missing because I asked them bluntly if they could prove it had been shipped and the answer was no. To put something in the postal system that is only tracked when it reaches the destination country is crass. Say they ship my parcel with Manchester on the address label and it goes to Manchester, New Hampshire. It could never arrive in the destination country and presumably goes into a bag labelled 'do something with these' as there would be no requirement for tracking whilst still in the US. I'm actually glad that they have upped the price and the service offered, even if it does cost another 5% plus. As with everything else in life, you get what you pay for.

My last lot cost me £30+ (single slabbed coin)so the costs have jumped again, still got a bargain though!!

[Accumulator 52]

I gave bidding a go in tonight's (the afternoon over there) 'Signature' auction. I must admit the system is very slick and, as others have mentioned, many of the British lots are just recorded under a general Spink number so bargains are possible. Perhaps the most impressive aspect is the quality of the photos provided, these are exceptional particularly as the coins are generally slabbed.

Anyway, one lot won, so let's see...

[VickySilver 830]

Please do report. I bid "live" and got beaten down on 7 coins. Might have been the reserves buying back. I did manage to get some of the ex=Pretoria mint pieces there some years ago - not cheaply.

[Accumulator 52]

Please do report. I bid "live" and got beaten down on 7 coins. Might have been the reserves buying back. I did manage to get some of the ex=Pretoria mint pieces there some years ago - not cheaply.

The system appeared to work well. I held the winning bid prior to the 'live' session this evening, during which no further bids were made. The maximum proxy bid I'd entered for the live session was $200 higher but, in the absence of any further bids, this additional cash was not used. It's nice to see that Heritage don't take bids 'off the wall' (not that I would expect that) and I only paid the minimum required to win the auction.

Hopefully the coin will arrive ok.

[Peter 615]

Please do report. I bid "live" and got beaten down on 7 coins. Might have been the reserves buying back. I did manage to get some of the ex=Pretoria mint pieces there some years ago - not cheaply.

The system appeared to work well. I held the winning bid prior to the 'live' session this evening, during which no further bids were made. The maximum proxy bid I'd entered for the live session was $200 higher but, in the absence of any further bids, this additional cash was not used. It's nice to see that Heritage don't take bids 'off the wall' (not that I would expect that) and I only paid the minimum required to win the auction.

Hopefully the coin will arrive ok.

I'm sure it will.Amazing coins have been through their books.

[cathrine 70]

I live in the USA, so I don't have any comments on Heritage's UK shipping costs. I've been bidding in Heritage auctions for the past seven years and have been very pleased with their entire auction process. The material offered is first rate, the online photos are well focused, very detailed, and show correct coloration, the staff responds quickly to queries, the live bidding interface is intuitively easy to use, and your biding results are available online for verification. I wish that the other auction houses that I deal with would offer similar capabilities.

I bid on twelve coins from Heritage on 11.09.12, winning nine of them. One coin, an 1858 small date penny (lot 27081), is the 1858/3 variety (if it really exists!), but notice of the die variety was not made by the NGC grading service or the Heritage cataloger. So, careful inspection of the merchandise prior to the auction can be fruitful, AND the photos are sufficiently detailed to permit such an inspection.

[Accumulator 52]

I live in the USA, so I don't have any comments on Heritage's UK shipping costs. I've been bidding in Heritage auctions for the past seven years and have been very pleased with their entire auction process. The material offered is first rate, the online photos are well focused, very detailed, and show correct coloration, the staff responds quickly to queries, the live bidding interface is intuitively easy to use, and your biding results are available online for verification. I wish that the other auction houses that I deal with would offer similar capabilities.

I bid on twelve coins from Heritage on 11.09.12, winning nine of them. One coin, an 1858 small date penny (lot 27081), is the 1858/3 variety (if it really exists!), but notice of the die variety was not made by the NGC grading service or the Heritage cataloger. So, careful inspection of the merchandise prior to the auction can be fruitful, AND the photos are sufficiently detailed to permit such an inspection.

It's my first experience of HA, but I certainly agree about the quality of the photographs, particularly as most are taken through plastic slabs.

I took a look at your possible 1858/3 purchase and it certainly has potential. It will be interesting to hear your conclusions once you have examined the coin in hand.

Welcome to the forum!

[declanwmagee 122]

You sound like you know your onions, Catherine, so you probably already know about Michael Gouby's site, but if you haven't seen it, he has an excellent discussion of 185* penny date varieties here

[Accumulator 52]

Just an update on my purchase. The coin arrived by 'UPS Worldwide Expedited' this morning. The cost for shipping was an additional $89. Plus I had to pay import vat of £31.44 on delivery.

The additional costs do add up but overall the experience of buying through Heritage was a positive one. The photographs on the site are exceptional and I have no idea how they manage to get such incredibly clear images through the perspex slabs. Another nice feature is the quality of the packaging - three layers, so very tough protection. Finally, as a first time client, they sent a free 150-page book "The Collectors Handbook" . Naturally this is focussed on the US market and, for those interested, contains information about such things as estate planning and tax. A nice touch and all very professional soI wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

[Colin G. 147]

Just an update on my purchase. The coin arrived by 'UPS Worldwide Expedited' this morning. The cost for shipping was an additional $89. Plus I had to pay import vat of £31.44 on delivery.

The additional costs do add up but overall the experience of buying through Heritage was a positive one. The photographs on the site are exceptional and I have no idea how they manage to get such incredibly clear images through the perspex slabs. Another nice feature is the quality of the packaging - three layers, so very tough protection. Finally, as a first time client, they sent a free 150-page book "The Collectors Handbook" . Naturally this is focussed on the US market and, for those interested, contains information about such things as estate planning and tax. A nice touch and all very professional soI wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

I might be cheeky and ask about his set up because I have been in correspondence with their photographer, but I suppose he is not going to just let others know his trade secrets