I attended the auction and never cease to be confused during the bidding. The auctioneer announces every lot in almost the same way, i.e. "Lot XXXX, YYY pounds is bid". He then looks round the room and, if no-one else bids, he brings the hammer down (by clicking his pen against a glass) and moves on. There is no way of telling whether the coin has sold because he NEVER says anything like "we'll have to pass on that one " or "Not sold". The only way of telling is to wait until the website is updated. For example, I was convinced that the 1863 die2 had sold for £2200 hammer but now I find it was unsold. Occasionally he might say "there are conflicting bids of blah blah" in which case we know that there have been bids. He gives the impression that bids have been received on every single lot which I find it hard to believe. I assume he announces a fictitious bid around the reserve, hoping that it will attract a bid over the reserve ? Is this standard practice ?