Fieldings Auction

[Mat]

Hi all, I cannot go into much detail at the moment as I am working, but just wanted to touch on the Fieldings auction on Saturday to give a couple of important points...

Viewing was absolutely essential for the lots, bidding on the phone/net based on the catalogue descriptions could have made you bid over or under by £1000+

For example: Lots described as "Approximately 200 half crowns, Victora, Edward VII and George V" There were just a couple of vicky, few edward and 270 george v. There was no more than £1000 in scrap in the lot, all coins were strictly F at the most with no rare dates, yet internet and phone bids pushed it up to £1900 with the commission. There was nothing more than scrap silver.

Also I decided to count a lot to see how accurate "Approximately" was. One of the lots described as approx 200 half crowns Ge V to Ge VI, had 171 coins in it. The 29 coins short is £100 difference in scrap value!

A huge portion of the bank notes were operation bernard (Nazi white fivers, tens and twentys). The catalogue just described them as what any inexperienced perceived them to be. The auctioneer stressed several times in the house that they are sold as seen, no returns and the buyer must use their own opinion etc.. However that caveat did not reach the phone/net bidders. A John Bradbury 10/- Dardanniels over print was clearly a fake and in poor condition, a phone bidder won it for £525. It was worth no more than £25 as a counterfeit. If any buyers are in this situation, I would urge you to contact the auction house to discuss, if they will not move on their no returns decision, inform them that it is a breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Sales of Goods Act (Trade descriptions act is obsolete and DSRs don’t cover auction unless fixed price)and there is nothing in the brochure to suggest sold as seen, there was no suggestion from the brochure that they are NOT experts in coins and notes and that you could only rely on their description. Failing that phone Consumer Direct and escalate it to trading standards.

The 1663 GARTIA error shilling sold for £3150 inc commission. I just kept bidding and the guy in front of me just kept going and going, based on what he paid for some other lots I didn’t think he was going to stop until he won it.

[Colin G.]

I also attended, I did not come away with a single lot, the prices were bizarre. There were some gems in there if you did the legwork, but even then the prices were double what I was willing to pay. I agree on the scrap silver, it was going for crazy prices/ Still it was a pleasant day, and I would have only regretted it if I hadn't gone (being as I am only about 30 mins away!!)

[azda]

Just goes to show, never trust an auctioneer

[argentumandcoins]

Thanks for the update Mat.

Sounds like every other auction that I've ever been to though (never visited the London rooms).

Coin experts are thin on the ground and crappy pictures coupled with vague descriptions and quantity guestimates do nothing to help.

There are more than a couple of houses that I now wouldn't touch with a barge pole due to lots not living up to descriptions.

[Colin G.]

I think a big factor was that the Midland Coin Fair was on the next day, so I think many dealers who were doing an overnight decided to pop in due to location. There were plenty of familiar dealer faces in there!!