An Impressive Medal, but a Question of Auction Firm Ethics

harasha

Back in 1982, Bowers and Ruddy listed this medal, clearly attributing it as probably an 18th century issue of a mid-16th century masterpiece. Fast forward to 2022. The auctioneer implies this is a 1547 - 1548 medal. It does cite the Bowers and Ruddy sale, so I guess you can attempt researching it, as I did. Thereby, I suppose the auctioneer can say it did not attempt to misrepresent anything.

TwoKopeiki

Do you know who is correct in this scenario?

harasha

Oh, this medal is well documented. Bowers and Ruddy. The medal pictured here is lighter and smaller; only 69.5 mm, 52 grams. A pipsqueak.

Iosephus

For a 15th or 16th century medal, I would expect an auction house to give an indication of their belief of the age of a cast. (And I would also not necessarily believe what they indicate, but that is a separate matter.)

SYRACUSIAN

Did you buy it? If he hyped it as 300 years older, it is or was (theoretically) going to sell for more. Definitely an ethics issue.

harasha

Despite the somewhat misleading description, the price was not hyped, in my opinion. Estimate was for 250 - 300 GBP.