Croydon Coin Auction's latest Catalogue

[DaveG38]

Anybody got a clue what's going on with the estimates for the next auction on the Croydon Coin Auction web site. There are either consistently incorrect descriptions or weird estimates. I know that estimates are often low and unrealistic, but these are mostly insanely unrealistic. For instance there's a 1937 Unc crown plus later crowns (the usual ones) estimated at £320 and immediately below it a 1683 sixpence in EF estimated at £60!!! Then there's a 1732 crown in AU estimated at £130 (wish I could buy at that price). Also a 1675 halfpenny in AF estimated at £130 following a similar date in AEF at £110. And so on. It's not just the odd coin either - there seem to be lots of inconsistencies throughout. Perhaps they've got a dyslexic typist.

[Peckris]

Anybody got a clue what's going on with the estimates for the next auction on the Croydon Coin Auction web site. There are either consistently incorrect descriptions or weird estimates. I know that estimates are often low and unrealistic, but these are mostly insanely unrealistic. For instance there's a 1937 Unc crown plus later crowns (the usual ones) estimated at £320 and immediately below it a 1683 sixpence in EF estimated at £60!!! Then there's a 1732 crown in AU estimated at £130 (wish I could buy at that price). Also a 1675 halfpenny in AF estimated at £130 following a similar date in AEF at £110. And so on. It's not just the odd coin either - there seem to be lots of inconsistencies throughout. Perhaps they've got a dyslexic typist.

Weird in the extreme. The first few listed are:

5s £50 1681 GF-AVF nice light tone, scarce

5s £40 1682/1 AVF light tone, faintest trace of mount removed from edge

2s6d £300 1909 GVF+/EF nice light tone

2s £60 1907 EF/ABU sl weak strike obv, v. light tone

1d £50 1797 Cartwheel virt Unc lustre traces, some surface mks & rust spots rev

The cartwheel must be extremely disfigured to make sense of that laughable estimate (which would be ok for a VF or GVF item), but those first two Charles II crowns are also ridiculously low especially when compared to the 1909 halfcrown that's not even fully EF!

I don't know what's going on tbh - if there were any images in that pdf it would be easier to see what's what, but there aren't.

[Red Riley]

Anybody got a clue what's going on with the estimates for the next auction on the Croydon Coin Auction web site. There are either consistently incorrect descriptions or weird estimates. I know that estimates are often low and unrealistic, but these are mostly insanely unrealistic. For instance there's a 1937 Unc crown plus later crowns (the usual ones) estimated at £320 and immediately below it a 1683 sixpence in EF estimated at £60!!! Then there's a 1732 crown in AU estimated at £130 (wish I could buy at that price). Also a 1675 halfpenny in AF estimated at £130 following a similar date in AEF at £110. And so on. It's not just the odd coin either - there seem to be lots of inconsistencies throughout. Perhaps they've got a dyslexic typist.

More than most, I think the reserve dictates the estimate. Certainly on the occasions I have attended, virtually nothing was sold below estimate and some of the estimates/reserves were optimistic in the extreme! Without checking the site, I believe the sellers' premium is way below the competition and so owners are tempted to 'have a punt'.

Unless you live south of the river it's a nightmare to get to, but on the other hand perhaps the last of the old school coin auctions.

[Rob]

The also buy for inclusion in their own sales. Some of the higher estimates will fall into that category.

[Coinery]

An absolute bugger to get to full stop, unless you're Paulus, of course!

I enjoyed the auction, very friendly and personable! My only warning would be their grading, especially the higher grades and UNC. I didn't get a chance to look at EVERYthing when I was there, so took a punt at a few late UNC items, thinking I'd be safe! Some were EF at best! I also bought a number of coins which were a grade over in their descriptions, plus discovered some pretty major flaws that could of been mentioned (I did bid accordingly on these, however)!

What did I learn? You either have to BE there AND look at absolutely everything you intend to bid on, or distant bid a full grade below!

Really nice people, worth the trek to be there! Attractive buyes premium of 5% too!

[VickySilver]

Yes, the estimates are "out the window" with some very high as well; so they have no value. My problem is as per just posted is that the grade estimates of better preserved recent milled are not on. I have bought from them in the past, obviously without seeing the lots. This tempered my bid amounts and on receipt of winnings proved to be largely correct. My general surmise is "Caveat emptor" so just be careful.

Not much in this sale for me but there did appear to be a very nice 1871 halfpenny with admittedly poor photo details.

[Red Riley]

Yes, the estimates are "out the window" with some very high as well; so they have no value. My problem is as per just posted is that the grade estimates of better preserved recent milled are not on. I have bought from them in the past, obviously without seeing the lots. This tempered my bid amounts and on receipt of winnings proved to be largely correct. My general surmise is "Caveat emptor" so just be careful.

Not much in this sale for me but there did appear to be a very nice 1871 halfpenny with admittedly poor photo details.

They've also got all the ambient lighting of a coal cellar so imperative to take some form of light (an illuminated loupe should do fine). I concur with everything else said, although you ought to be safe enough with anything below EF but take Unc with a huge pinch of salt.

[pokal02]

I've got the printed catalogue now. The 1681 & 1682 crowns mentioned are both £200 and the cartwheel £160, so something's gone wrong with the website.

I remember selling a 1684 crown in AF at CCA a few years ago and was horrified when they estimated it at £28!! It went for £180 or £190 in the end though. I've never been too disappointed with prices I've rwalised there (other than one or two hammered pennies - I think milled does much better).

Weird in the extreme. The first few listed are:

5s £50 1681 GF-AVF nice light tone, scarce

5s £40 1682/1 AVF light tone, faintest trace of mount removed from edge

2s6d £300 1909 GVF+/EF nice light tone

2s £60 1907 EF/ABU sl weak strike obv, v. light tone

1d £50 1797 Cartwheel virt Unc lustre traces, some surface mks & rust spots rev

The cartwheel must be extremely disfigured to make sense of that laughable estimate (which would be ok for a VF or GVF item), but those first two Charles II crowns are also ridiculously low especially when compared to the 1909 halfcrown that's not even fully EF!

I don't know what's going on tbh - if there were any images in that pdf it would be easier to see what's what, but there aren't.

[Peter]

I have been attracted to auctions because of low(ish) estimates but there is clearly a numpty on board.