London Coins Catalogues

[Rob 3,106]

Does anyone receive them any more? I've not been sent one since last September and as a consequence haven't bid on anything either.

Since they stopped having the sales at Bracknell with the ability to view the lots in hand, I have tended to work on the principle of if in doubt, leave it out. The pictures never have enough fine detail visible and tend to flatter the item, meaning viewing is even more important, but there is none. The breakdown of the online catalogue into sections rather than having it viewable from lot 1 though to the end also does my head in, as does the habit of listing by denomination in alphabetical order instead of chronologically, which is what most auction houses do. Am I the only one who thinks this way?

[Martinminerva 293]

Not had a printed catalogue for over two years now, despite regularly requesting them and having spent hundreds (and sold similarly) with them over the years. Likewise nowadays rarely bid with them. The online catalogue is a poor substitute for the printed, the latter which I used to like to peruse at my leisure. Lockdales did the same with me many years ago, and I have never bid with them since. 

[Paddy 1,617]

I gave up on LCA several years ago. The combination of over-doctored images, inaccurate descriptions and (reportedly) dodgy auctioneering practice put me off.

Visiting Bracknell to view or bid was too much of a trek, even when that was an option.

One has to be able to trust the auction house when bidding online. Trust takes a while to build up but can be blown away in moments.

[Kipster 194]

4 hours ago, Paddy said:

...and (reportedly) dodgy auctioneering practice put me off.

Intriguing...🧐

[Coinery 1,005]

I love their search engine for past lots, but really struggle with their online layout for upcoming auctions. For me their online experience falls FAR short of the competition.

[Master Jmd 63]

43 minutes ago, Coinery said:

For me their online experience falls FAR short of the competition.

I'm amused that they don't have a better way to present lots like this one:

I'm also rather curious why such bundles exist on their platform in the first place. You'd think they'd reject single lots that are this varied.

At least the listing photo shows us everything in the lot without having to read through the whole thing... (sarcasm if that wasn't clear - there is no photo).

[Paddy 1,617]

3 hours ago, Kipster said:

Intriguing...🧐

The concerns were discussed at length on this forum several years ago. The usual gripe about always winning with one's maximum bid was the start of the debate, and this linked with the lack of live online bidding (this may have changed since then) meant the auctioneer could have prior knowledge of the top bids left and so engineer the auction to ensure this limit was reached.

[Kipster 194]

I see. Interesting. I've bid with them numerous times and often won at less than my high bid. I agree though, I don't like the auction format at all, but if it's already been discussed, I won't go over old ground.

[Coinery 1,005]

5 hours ago, Master Jmd said:

I'm amused that they don't have a better way to present lots like this one:

I'm also rather curious why such bundles exist on their platform in the first place. You'd think they'd reject single lots that are this varied.

At least the listing photo shows us everything in the lot without having to read through the whole thing... (sarcasm if that wasn't clear - there is no photo).

Absolutely ridiculous isn’t it? What a nonsense!

[Rob 3,106]

I've never had an issue with winning bids as some have come in low, some at max and some lost or not met the reserve - i.e. what you would expect.

It's the combination of picture quality and the inability to view in hand that's the killer for me.

[VickySilver 805]

I have gotten some  nice coins from them, mainly in the distant past however. I would imagine that many decent coins have been lost in those "hoard" lots as listed by Master JMD. I still look at them when they first come out but then forget to bid, and am put off by their odd idiosyncratic methods of auction as have been alluded to. Sometimes I would receive a lot and it looked better than the sorry pictures, and other times worse (more commonly the case).

They also now have HUGE runs of sovereigns that really tire me out and scroll through as rapidly as possible. Blah, blah, blah.......Well they are their own.

[secret santa 2,136]

I receive a printed catalogue for every auction - looks like I'm one of the lucky ones.

[Menger 82]

I like London Coins.

I have had no issue with their email bidding - wins have come in on my highest bid and way below it.  

My sense is that the analogue procedures and potential risks (poor photos, effectively closed door auctions) keep bids away - especially for international bidders.  In other words, the chance of a relative bargain. 
 

If such an apples to apples comparison were possible (I don’t think it is) it would be interesting to see how London Coin results compare to elsewhere, then relative to the 17% buyers premium they charge.
 

My sense may also be wrong: the act of needing to submit a one off email bid certainly encourages me to add on a sizable safety margin if bidding for something I really want. Perhaps others do the same … ? 

[Sword 1,380]

On 5/28/2024 at 3:08 PM, Master Jmd said:

I'm amused that they don't have a better way to present lots like this one:

I'm also rather curious why such bundles exist on their platform in the first place. You'd think they'd reject single lots that are this varied.

At least the listing photo shows us everything in the lot without having to read through the whole thing... (sarcasm if that wasn't clear - there is no photo).

Virtually all the lots are modern commemoratives and so the buyer will know what to expect. It wouldn't be worth the effort to take photos of so many lots.

Looks like someone is getting rid of an accumulation of 15 or so years. It dreads me to think how much they would lose if the items were purchased close to the issue prices.

[Rob 3,106]

19 hours ago, secret santa said:

I receive a printed catalogue for every auction - looks like I'm one of the lucky ones.

Given the evidence that they are still sending out catalogues, if anyone has copies of December 2023 or later they don't want, my library would be grateful. Please PM me if you can help. Ta.

[VickySilver 805]

On 5/31/2024 at 4:12 AM, Sword said:

Virtually all the lots are modern commemoratives and so the buyer will know what to expect. It wouldn't be worth the effort to take photos of so many lots.

Looks like someone is getting rid of an accumulation of 15 or so years. It dreads me to think how much they would lose if the items were purchased close to the issue prices.

Agree generally, however I have seen some VERY nice coins occasionally buried in these lots...

[Peckris 2 2,101]

On 5/31/2024 at 9:12 AM, Sword said:

Virtually all the lots are modern commemoratives and so the buyer will know what to expect. It wouldn't be worth the effort to take photos of so many lots.

Looks like someone is getting rid of an accumulation of 15 or so years. It dreads me to think how much they would lose if the items were purchased close to the issue prices.

they'll certainly have earned their commission after typing all that out!

[Sword 1,380]

37 minutes ago, Peckris 2 said:

they'll certainly have earned their commission after typing all that out!

Unless the seller has supplied the description. If reserve is set by seller: "the seller describes his lot (we grade it) and states the minimum amount (the reserve) he is willing to accept for the lot before any commission."

[Sword 1,380]

On 6/1/2024 at 2:49 PM, VickySilver said:

Agree generally, however I have seen some VERY nice coins occasionally buried in these lots...

Then the buyers of these lots will very occasionally have nice surprises. It will be like finding something nice in a £5 / item tray .

[Rob 3,106]

Thanks to David Bordeaux for the March catalogue. If anyone has last December's or the sale just gone, I'm still looking. 

[david.bordeaux 166]

On the subject of London Coins, I see from my invoice for the June sale that their buyer's commission is soon to go up to 18.5%

Quote

While we have tried as best we can to absorb the increasing costs associated with inflation for as long as possible, please be aware that our buyer's premium will be changing to 18.5% starting from Auction 186 on 31st August and 1st September 2024. This new rate is still considerably lower than typical auction house rates.

 

[Peckris 2 2,101]

On 6/2/2024 at 6:42 PM, Sword said:

Then the buyers of these lots will very occasionally have nice surprises. It will be like finding something nice in a £5 / item tray .

..though not quite as nice as finding an UNC 1951 brass 3d with good lustre, and an EF 1888 6d ... for 20p each in a crate of coins @ 5 for £1!

[Sword 1,380]

That's brilliant! The feeling of "rescuing" a great 1951 sixpence would make one happier than a financial gain.

But not quite as good as finding a 1905 halfcrown in a £3 tray!

 

[Sword 1,380]

Not saying that has actually happened 😁

I haven't looked at trays of coins in markets for many years. On the last occasion, I did pick out a half a dozen of  pre 1920 / 1947 silver coins for 50p each. 

[Rob 3,106]

Thanks to Jerry for the December catalogue. Just the May 2024 sale now. Ta.