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Phew! Thank goodness that's over!

But, wait! What's this?? It's St James' ....and Baldwins and Spink (and Goldberg and Heritage too, if you're into that sort of thing)...

Why are there are so many bloody auctions in the Autumn?! Surely it would be better for both auction houses and their customers to spread out the offerings across the year?

Me? I'm off to raid the penny jar and start crossing my fingers ...

.

Edited by TomGoodheart

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Managed to snaffle a couple of groats at St James's this morning. Think the outlay has scuppered my trip to Spink though. Will probably go to Coinex but may well be looking rather than buying.

I agree, many years I've found nothing between Nov-March & everything happens at once in Sept. Would like it a bit more spread out.

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I keep my eyes peeled for white fiver's and the Jerry dropped version's.

The replacement notes are nice to find. :)

What are those worth nowadays compared to the kosher one?

I also have a bernhard white fiver. Are you posting your Wins Clive so we can have a look?

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Phew! Thank goodness that's over!

But, wait! What's this?? It's St James' ....and Baldwins and Spink (and Goldberg and Heritage too, if you're into that sort of thing)...

Why are there are so many bloody auctions in the Autumn?! Surely it would be better for both auction houses and their customers to spread out the offerings across the year?

Me? I'm off to raid the penny jar and start crossing my fingers ...

.

Totally agree Richard, its been a hell of a month for auctions

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Egads. Just watching Spink and thinking I might as well give up any hope of buying nice coins in future.

Most are way over estimate. And would be well over what I could possibly afford. So much for improving the collection....

:(

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Richard Ambrose summed it up well:

It was an interesting morning at the Spink auction today. I attended the Saxon and Norman sessions (lots 66-195).

Prices were in general strong, with regular 'fireworks' for rare or choice lots.
The ninth-century & Viking section totalled £41,700, and averaged £1,070 per lot. Highlight prices:
- lot 69 (a rare transitional Coenwulf) £4,600
- lot 84 (Aethelstan of East Anglia) £3,000
The late Saxon section (my particular interest) totalled £53,700, and averaged £790 per lot - seemingly the typical price for a 'decent Saxon coin' now. Highlight prices:
- lot 118 (FH Derby) £2,000
- lot 119 (FH Ipswich) £1,800 (!)
- lot 126 (LC Barnstaple) £1,250
- lot 142 (Q Nottingham) £1,250
- lot 146 (H Derby) £2,900 (!!!)
- lot 164 (TQ Sandwich) £2,700 (!!)
- lot 172 (SE Wallingford) £2,400 (!)
- lot 176 (HC Bedwyn) £3,400
- lot 182 (FC Chichester) £1,700 (!)
Not all prices were as strong as these, but it suggests that rarity and/ or quality can still command very high prices. Edward the Confessor seemed distinctly stronger than other reigns.
Norman material did well.

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I agree thought I may be able to fill a long standing gap...but not a chance :( still a couple more to come...but I don't hold out much hope!!

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What a depressing day. :( Apart from coming second on one thing :( , I was blown out of the water on everything I bid on :( , despite often being multiples of estimate. :blink: I gave up after the Berwick farthing. :(

Edited by Rob

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Yeah, I just missed out on the only thing I wanted...

... by £500 .. :(

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Yeah, I just missed out on the only thing I wanted...

... by £500 .. :(

:(

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What a depressing day. :( Apart from coming second on one thing :( , I was blown out of the water on everything I bid on :( , despite often being multiples of estimate. :blink: I gave up after the Berwick farthing. :(

If I had known you were going for it as well...I wouldn't have even bothered!! :D

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Yeah, I just missed out on the only thing I wanted...

... by £500 .. :(

Let me guess. Lot 591.

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What a depressing day. :( Apart from coming second on one thing :( , I was blown out of the water on everything I bid on :( , despite often being multiples of estimate. :blink: I gave up after the Berwick farthing. :(

If I had known you were going for it as well...I wouldn't have even bothered!! :D

That was earmarked early on ;) All to no avail though. Things were getting desperate towards the end of the first five minutes. There were a couple that slipped under the radar, but not many. Once they started the Saxons, it was always going to be an expensive day. I wasn't surprised by 118 from the list above as Derby is always a popular mint, but the following lot going for £1900 was a surprise, as were the prices on 146, 164, 172 and 182. I even resorted to bidding on 514 at the end in the hope that it would be around estimate, but 3 or 4K hammer for a bent, double struck, and cracked William I had no appeal to me, however rare it might be.

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What a depressing day. :( Apart from coming second on one thing :( , I was blown out of the water on everything I bid on :( , despite often being multiples of estimate. :blink: I gave up after the Berwick farthing. :(

If I had known you were going for it as well...I wouldn't have even bothered!! :D

That was earmarked early on ;) All to no avail though. Things were getting desperate towards the end of the first five minutes. There were a couple that slipped under the radar, but not many. Once they started the Saxons, it was always going to be an expensive day. I wasn't surprised by 118 from the list above as Derby is always a popular mint, but the following lot going for £1900 was a surprise, as were the prices on 146, 164, 172 and 182. I even resorted to bidding on 514 at the end in the hope that it would be around estimate, but 3 or 4K hammer for a bent, double struck, and cracked William I had no appeal to me, however rare it might be.

The Henry VIII farthing surprised me, I have seen better go for less...£1,400 + premium :o

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Yeah, I just missed out on the only thing I wanted...

... by £500 .. :(

Let me guess. Lot 591.

Of course. And I even had reservations because the reverse was off centre, but that clearly didn't matter to the eventual buyer.

I'm just hoping it was a bit of a feeding frenzy as the market has been so lean of late. If these prices reflect a new level I'm not sure where the mid- to better end collectors (which is how I think of myself) are going to find material to keep the collection going..

.. I might have to muscle into Scott and Generic's bargain bucket game!

:P

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Yeah, I just missed out on the only thing I wanted...

... by £500 .. :(

Let me guess. Lot 591.

Of course. And I even had reservations because the reverse was off centre, but that clearly didn't matter to the eventual buyer.

I'm just hoping it was a bit of a feeding frenzy as the market has been so lean of late. If these prices reflect a new level I'm not sure where the mid- to better end collectors (which is how I think of myself) are going to find material to keep the collection going..

.. I might have to muscle into Scott and Generic's bargain bucket game! DON'T DO IT. RESIST

:P

Let's just say 591 went to a member of this forum. :ph34r:

Edited by Rob

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Yeah, I just missed out on the only thing I wanted...

... by £500 .. :(

Let me guess. Lot 591.

Of course. And I even had reservations because the reverse was off centre, but that clearly didn't matter to the eventual buyer.

I'm just hoping it was a bit of a feeding frenzy as the market has been so lean of late. If these prices reflect a new level I'm not sure where the mid- to better end collectors (which is how I think of myself) are going to find material to keep the collection going..

.. I might have to muscle into Scott and Generic's bargain bucket game! DON'T DO IT. RESIST

:P

Let's just say 591 went to a member of this forum. :ph34r:

I thought everyone was a member of this forum Rob! But if it's a regularly posting member, does that mean we can hope to see better photos of it in the new acquisitions thread?

:)

Edited by TomGoodheart

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Yeah, I just missed out on the only thing I wanted...

... by £500 .. :(

Let me guess. Lot 591.

Of course. And I even had reservations because the reverse was off centre, but that clearly didn't matter to the eventual buyer.

I'm just hoping it was a bit of a feeding frenzy as the market has been so lean of late. If these prices reflect a new level I'm not sure where the mid- to better end collectors (which is how I think of myself) are going to find material to keep the collection going..

.. I might have to muscle into Scott and Generic's bargain bucket game! DON'T DO IT. RESIST

:P

Let's just say 591 went to a member of this forum. :ph34r:

I thought everyone was a member of this forum Rob! But if it's a regularly posting member, does that mean we can hope to see better photos of it in the new acquisitions thread?

:)

You're talking about one lot. But does anyone know who the majority of these successful bidders are? I mean, this forum is one of Britain's leading coin forums and yet its members are being blown out of the water at major sales. This implies to me, that the buyers may not even be British : they're clearly not dealers, not at those prices, and we have some of the leading lights of the community here (Michael and Neil, to name but two). So WHO ARE THEY?

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Some are British, some not. For example, CNG bid strongly at London sales and then the material crosses the pond, but others are private individuals. Then you have dealers with commission bids which are obviously for private purchases so there is no clear cut way of identifying the eventual recipients.

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Yeah, I just missed out on the only thing I wanted...

... by £500 .. :(

Let me guess. Lot 591.

Of course. And I even had reservations because the reverse was off centre, but that clearly didn't matter to the eventual buyer.

I'm just hoping it was a bit of a feeding frenzy as the market has been so lean of late. If these prices reflect a new level I'm not sure where the mid- to better end collectors (which is how I think of myself) are going to find material to keep the collection going..

.. I might have to muscle into Scott and Generic's bargain bucket game! DON'T DO IT. RESIST

:P

Let's just say 591 went to a member of this forum. :ph34r:

I thought everyone was a member of this forum Rob! But if it's a regularly posting member, does that mean we can hope to see better photos of it in the new acquisitions thread?

:)

You're talking about one lot. But does anyone know who the majority of these successful bidders are? I mean, this forum is one of Britain's leading coin forums and yet its members are being blown out of the water at major sales. This implies to me, that the buyers may not even be British : they're clearly not dealers, not at those prices, and we have some of the leading lights of the community here (Michael and Neil, to name but two). So WHO ARE THEY?

First of all, a great many people, especially older people, are not especially computer literate. And, even if they are, they do not necessarily spend much time on online forums. I am retired now so have the time to indulge. However, when I was professionally active, I certainly didn't have time to spend on message boards. So the fact that they do not inhabit this forum does not really tell us much.

Second, price is a relative notion. If you are a successful CEO, CFO, lawyer or Big 4 partner, spending a few grand more to get what you want is not necessarily a big deal and especially if you do not have the time to hunt around. Remember, these are guys who will pay $6k to fly business class rather than $400 to fly in the back of the plane.

Personally, I have always had a very keen sense of what I am willing to pay for a coin. But I am also Scottish. :lol:

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Second, price is a relative notion. If you are a successful CEO, CFO, lawyer or Big 4 partner, spending a few grand more to get what you want is not necessarily a big deal and especially if you do not have the time to hunt around. Remember, these are guys who will pay $6k to fly business class rather than $400 to fly in the back of the plane.

Couldn't agree more, Jaggy! :)

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You're talking about one lot. But does anyone know who the majority of these successful bidders are? I mean, this forum is one of Britain's leading coin forums and yet its members are being blown out of the water at major sales. This implies to me, that the buyers may not even be British : they're clearly not dealers, not at those prices, and we have some of the leading lights of the community here (Michael and Neil, to name but two). So WHO ARE THEY?

First of all, a great many people, especially older people, are not especially computer literate. And, even if they are, they do not necessarily spend much time on online forums. I am retired now so have the time to indulge. However, when I was professionally active, I certainly didn't have time to spend on message boards. So the fact that they do not inhabit this forum does not really tell us much.

Second, price is a relative notion. If you are a successful CEO, CFO, lawyer or Big 4 partner, spending a few grand more to get what you want is not necessarily a big deal and especially if you do not have the time to hunt around. Remember, these are guys who will pay $6k to fly business class rather than $400 to fly in the back of the plane.

Personally, I have always had a very keen sense of what I am willing to pay for a coin. But I am also Scottish. :lol:

And I'm Scottish in wallet spirit :D

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Just out of interest, does anyone know the hammer of 315 at StJames'?

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You're talking about one lot. But does anyone know who the majority of these successful bidders are? I mean, this forum is one of Britain's leading coin forums and yet its members are being blown out of the water at major sales. This implies to me, that the buyers may not even be British : they're clearly not dealers, not at those prices, and we have some of the leading lights of the community here (Michael and Neil, to name but two). So WHO ARE THEY?

I think it varies as different types of coins attract different buyers. I know that dealers were picking up pieces in today's Spink auction just as foreign buyers were in DNW's most recent. A fair few lots went to the members of this forum, too, but I do agree that many seem to be moving into the English hammered market, at least, from USA, Japan, Australia and even South Korea and India.

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Maybe because we've had it so good for so long, no huge price increases, Spinks listing the Commoner coins at silly prices and so on. Now the Rest of the World is seeing a bargain and the Feeding frenzy begins. Spink might be caught Short in their price Guide publication this year, it's only going to get worse at the top end.

Move over Scott.........

Edited by azda

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