A Silly mistake: What to do? UPDATE: Excellent response from Stacks

brianc1959

The large cent in this Stacks auction lot is the famous Silly head variety, not the head of '38: https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-Q8MTL/1839-modified-matron-head-cent-n-2-rarity-2-head-of-1838-beaded-cords-ms-64-bn-pcgs . The mistake is not just in the auction description, but on the holder also. I only noticed because I've been looking for a nice '39 h.o. '38 for some time now, and have finally worked out a deal for on with a member here. Maybe this is a measure of me having fallen down the slippery slope of numismatic nerd-dom, but the mistake bothers me - despite the fact that its really none of my business. What to do?

MFeld

Why not let them know about it? The coin can be withdrawn, resubmitted for the proper attribution and re-offered for sale afterwards.

Jimnight

Yes ... let them know.

brianc1959

Thanks above for the advice - I just sent an email over to Stacks.

ricko

Good work... It helps all parties when these issues are corrected. Cheers, RickO

Broadstruck

I do it all the time and every auction house so far has always appreciated the heads up.

braddick

That is a wonderfully attractive large cent though.

silverpop

letting the auction house know is a good idea then they can correct the mistake and then sell the coin with the proper info and the proper holder

EXOJUNKIE

@Broadstruck said:
I do it all the time and every auction house so far has always appreciated the heads up.

That’s not what they say about you when I talk to them.

Broadstruck

@EXOJUNKIE said:

@Broadstruck said:
I do it all the time and every auction house so far has always appreciated the heads up.

That’s not what they say about you when I talk to them.

WAYNEAS

@brianc1959 said:

Bravo and 2 thumbs up

lkenefic

Beautiful Large Cent... I'd want it properly attributed.

jedm

Yes a beautiful coin and I think there's a minor clip with the accompanying Blakesly effect too.

oih82w8

Very nice Large Cent, but its a couple points too high for my Everyman 19th Century Set.

jedm

LanceNewmanOCC

@jedm said:
Yes a beautiful coin and I think there's a minor clip with the accompanying Blakesly effect too.

.
you beat me to it. kudos!

brianc1959

@LanceNewmanOCC said:

@jedm said:
Yes a beautiful coin and I think there's a minor clip with the accompanying Blakesly effect too.

.
you beat me to it. kudos!

As usual, I've learned something new on this forum, and now I have to do some homework to find out what the Blakesly effect is!!

LanceNewmanOCC

@brianc1959 said:
As usual, I've learned something new on this forum, and now I have to do some homework to find out what the >Blakesly effect is!!

good plan.

now just 9,999 more to go.

291fifth

@brianc1959 said:
The large cent in this Stacks auction lot is the famous Silly head variety, not the head of '38: https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-Q8MTL/1839-modified-matron-head-cent-n-2-rarity-2-head-of-1838-beaded-cords-ms-64-bn-pcgs . The mistake is not just in the auction description, but on the holder also. I only noticed because I've been looking for a nice '39 h.o. '38 for some time now, and have finally worked out a deal for on with a member here. Maybe this is a measure of me having fallen down the slippery slope of numismatic nerd-dom, but the mistake bothers me - despite the fact that its really none of my business. What to do?

If they are paying you as a consultant you should inform them of the mistake. If they are not paying you as a consultant you should just move on. It is not your problem.

MFeld

@291fifth said:

@brianc1959 said:
The large cent in this Stacks auction lot is the famous Silly head variety, not the head of '38: https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-Q8MTL/1839-modified-matron-head-cent-n-2-rarity-2-head-of-1838-beaded-cords-ms-64-bn-pcgs . The mistake is not just in the auction description, but on the holder also. I only noticed because I've been looking for a nice '39 h.o. '38 for some time now, and have finally worked out a deal for on with a member here. Maybe this is a measure of me having fallen down the slippery slope of numismatic nerd-dom, but the mistake bothers me - despite the fact that its really none of my business. What to do?

If they are paying you as a consultant you should inform them of the mistake. If they are not paying you as a consultant you should just move on. It is not your problem.

What’s wrong with helping a seller, a buyer (and possibly a consignor,) without being paid as a consultant? Just because you would apparently move along under such circumstances, doesn’t mean that others “should”.

PerryHall

@291fifth said:

@brianc1959 said:
The large cent in this Stacks auction lot is the famous Silly head variety, not the head of '38: https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-Q8MTL/1839-modified-matron-head-cent-n-2-rarity-2-head-of-1838-beaded-cords-ms-64-bn-pcgs . The mistake is not just in the auction description, but on the holder also. I only noticed because I've been looking for a nice '39 h.o. '38 for some time now, and have finally worked out a deal for on with a member here. Maybe this is a measure of me having fallen down the slippery slope of numismatic nerd-dom, but the mistake bothers me - despite the fact that its really none of my business. What to do?

If they are paying you as a consultant you should inform them of the mistake. If they are not paying you as a consultant you should just move on. It is not your problem.

Wow! It's possible to do a good deed to help a fellow human without making a profit. I assume you were just having a bad day.

IkesT

@291fifth said:

@brianc1959 said:
The large cent in this Stacks auction lot is the famous Silly head variety, not the head of '38: https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-Q8MTL/1839-modified-matron-head-cent-n-2-rarity-2-head-of-1838-beaded-cords-ms-64-bn-pcgs . The mistake is not just in the auction description, but on the holder also. I only noticed because I've been looking for a nice '39 h.o. '38 for some time now, and have finally worked out a deal for on with a member here. Maybe this is a measure of me having fallen down the slippery slope of numismatic nerd-dom, but the mistake bothers me - despite the fact that its really none of my business. What to do?

If they are paying you as a consultant you should inform them of the mistake. If they are not paying you as a consultant you should just move on. It is not your problem.

It is good for the hobby and good for the market when coins are attributed correctly.

291fifth

@MFeld said:

@291fifth said:

@brianc1959 said:
The large cent in this Stacks auction lot is the famous Silly head variety, not the head of '38: https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-Q8MTL/1839-modified-matron-head-cent-n-2-rarity-2-head-of-1838-beaded-cords-ms-64-bn-pcgs . The mistake is not just in the auction description, but on the holder also. I only noticed because I've been looking for a nice '39 h.o. '38 for some time now, and have finally worked out a deal for on with a member here. Maybe this is a measure of me having fallen down the slippery slope of numismatic nerd-dom, but the mistake bothers me - despite the fact that its really none of my business. What to do?

If they are paying you as a consultant you should inform them of the mistake. If they are not paying you as a consultant you should just move on. It is not your problem.

What’s wrong with helping a seller, a buyer (and possibly a consignor,) without being paid as a consultant? Just because you would apparently move along under such circumstances, doesn’t mean that others “should”.

My experience in the past with informing dealers of various mistakes was very negative. They either ignored what I told them or acted rudely. In the case of large corporations they should not expect valuable information to be provided free. The corporations price their services at what the market will bear (just witness the sharp increases in commission rates in recent years). Why shouldn't you?

MFeld

@291fifth said:

@MFeld said:

@291fifth said:

@brianc1959 said:
The large cent in this Stacks auction lot is the famous Silly head variety, not the head of '38: https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-Q8MTL/1839-modified-matron-head-cent-n-2-rarity-2-head-of-1838-beaded-cords-ms-64-bn-pcgs . The mistake is not just in the auction description, but on the holder also. I only noticed because I've been looking for a nice '39 h.o. '38 for some time now, and have finally worked out a deal for on with a member here. Maybe this is a measure of me having fallen down the slippery slope of numismatic nerd-dom, but the mistake bothers me - despite the fact that its really none of my business. What to do?

If they are paying you as a consultant you should inform them of the mistake. If they are not paying you as a consultant you should just move on. It is not your problem.

What’s wrong with helping a seller, a buyer (and possibly a consignor,) without being paid as a consultant? Just because you would apparently move along under such circumstances, doesn’t mean that others “should”.

My experience in the past with informing dealers of various mistakes was very negative. They either ignored what I told them or acted rudely. In the case of large corporations they should not expect valuable information to be provided free. The corporations price their services at what the market will bear (just witness the sharp increases in commission rates in recent years). Why shouldn't you?

I’m sorry that’s been your experience. I welcome information of the type mentioned in this thread. In fact, over the years, I’ve been contacted by a number of forum members (as well as other lot viewers and bidders) with questions and/or corrections regarding attribution of auction lots. I think it’s accurate to say that I always act quickly and thank the person who contacts me. I don’t “expect” the information, but I certainly appreciate it.

brianc1959

UPDATE: Stacks responded to my email in an extremely courteous and professional manner, and they've changed the text description of the coin: https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-Q8MTL/1839-modified-matron-head-cent-n-4-rarity-1-silly-head-ms-64-bn-pcgs .

BStrauss3

@291fifth said:
My experience in the past with informing dealers of various mistakes was very negative. They either ignored what I told them or acted rudely. In the case of large corporations they should not expect valuable information to be provided free. The corporations price their services at what the market will bear (just witness the sharp increases in commission rates in recent years). Why shouldn't you?

I've had dealers & auction houses thank me very nicely.
I've had dealers & auction houses ignore me.

Guesses who I buy from?

I did love the 1855-O Three Cent Silver that sold on fleaBay last night, esp. as it was actually an 1862.