Alex Cooper Auction near Baltimore

FootballCrazy

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=23&threadid=843379


Saw this on the currency board. Appears to be a fresh to the market collection assembled in the 40's and 50's with lots of early type coins in top raw condition, 1930's proof sets, High Relief Saint ect. Reserves seem to be way low vs. the current maket values for many coins. If the consinors are expecting these prices they should be very happy. What do others think?

jonathanb

Nothing I collect, but I had a good time looking at the catalog online.

IIRC, one of the regular coin bloggers went to one of these auctions once and had a scathing review of how this particular auctioneer handled (mis-handled) the pre-auction viewing. Anyone planning on looking at the lots in person before the auction should apparently allow for a LOT of extra time, and plenty of aspirin. (Of course, it's possible that the auctioneer has improved things...)

MrEureka

This is going to be one serious bloodbath, and I'm looking forward to it!

CoinRaritiesOnline

<< <i>This is going to be one serious bloodbath, and I'm looking forward to it! >>



What he said.

Often in cases like this, the winning bidders are not the true winners, if you know what I mean.

astrorat

Dang ... what a disappointment! I misread the title and was hoping to pick up an Alice Cooper coin!

ColonialCoinUnion

Road trip!

FootballCrazy

My father in law is in the antique business and I have attended some of their antique auctions and estate sales and I do remember that there was a problem with viewing smalls in the showcases,( not enough auction personel to show pieces?) I would sugest getting there early.

I will get there early as I want to get to view all the early types and proofs. Hopefully one or two will slip through...LOL

jonathanb

Seems like some folks must have made it to lot viewing. I just watched one lot with a $200-300 estimate hammer at $35,000. Some nice pieces in this sale!

Unknown

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Kove

<< <i>All his half dimes had the appearance of being bought blast white then wiped or something sliding over them and then put into his method of storage for similar attractive bullseye retoning imho. I would not buy them but that is just me. >>



Many of the commems appear to have lots and lots of fingerprints, as well.

ebaybuyer

not much going cheap.... most are going quite strong for raw coins, with nearly a 20% surcharge

coinkat

I would refrain from commenting on these unless you looked at these in person

Coinosaurus

<< <i>I would refrain from commenting on these unless you looked at these in person >>



On the computer everything looks dipped and retoned. Maybe they are better in person, maybe not.

coinkat

Everything???

I suspect you missed the 3 Cent silvers for starters-

Did you see the 1897-o Barber quarter or the 1900 Barber Half?

And should I mention the 1873 with arrows quarter?

Julian

<< <i>I would refrain from commenting on these unless you looked at these in person >>

MrEureka

How did it go??? (I couldn't attend.)

Ronyahski

I just got back home from the auction. It was absolutely unbelievable!!! I spent two days lot viewing. This collection was phemomenal!!! The $35,000 hammer mentioned was for an 1873 Arrows quarter included in a group of three seated quarters, Lot 351. An A toner that was added to the finest seated collection in existence (I'm sure some of you can figure out who I am talking about.)

I'll post an update tomorrow about the auction. Every ten or twenty years does an opportunity like this come around. It was indeed a bloodbath!!!

raycyca

GREAT auction! $200-300 estimates were a joke! Usually 5 times that. MANY of the proofs were scuffed/cleaned. Got a few nice coins though. Missed out on a coin on a technicality. I bid, was high bidder, auctioneer looked at my bid, refused it and sold to the floor. THEN, he asked the floor bidder if he still wanted it because he made the mistake. Guess what his answer was? Lot 372 proof Barber quarter for $475, to the floor. Nice coin. Estimate: $250-350, hammered: $475-BARGIN.




Lot# 298, Barber dime 1898, estimate: 150-200, hammered: $5,000, semi typical for many coins there.

Unknown

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Coinosaurus

<< <i>

<< <i>I would refrain from commenting on these unless you looked at these in person >>



On the computer everything looks dipped and retoned. Maybe they are better in person, maybe not. >>



From what I hear it was the real deal, the big boys all showed up, and prices for the good stuff were very strong.

I still don't like the pictures on the computer.

firstmint

One of my favorite lot descriptions (and bid) was lot 119.

This one had 3- three cent silver coins, one of which was an 1851-O that was catalogued as VF-20. Upon examiation , it was found to have numerous carbon spots and "abstract" toning. But have you ever seen a VF-20 with full lustre? It was noted as coming from Bolender in 1944. So I got out my Bolender catalogue from that date, and sure enough, it was listed and sold as Uncirculated.

I bid $500 for the lot, which opened at $80 and immediately went to $800 with a floor bidder.

Auctions sure are interesting...

I had not heard of this company before, but now, it's very well known in numismatic channels. If they get another old time group of coins and currency, you can bet it won't be cheap.

coindeuce

IMHO, one of two scenarios took place with this consignment: either the auction house employed unskilled (non-numismatic) internal staff to grade and estimate pre-sale values, or an outside vendor was hired to perform the task, and conditions/values were represented in the hopes that the sale would fly under the radar to the benefit of collaborators of the appraisal firm.

BST transactions: Even a few with OFR members. Imagine that.
Ahrensdad,al410,ao39,Bajjerfan,Barndog,Batman23,Billet7,Blackhawk,
Braddick,Broadstruck,brokezorro,CarsonCityGold,cohodk,CoinsAreNeat,Coinlearner,coinman23885,
CoinRaritiesOnline,coin22lover,cucamongacoin,
DCW,dizzyfoxx,donthehill,DoubleEagle59,dpvilla,Drunner,dsessom,Ducky1100,
EvilEmpire,eyoung429,fishteeth,greencopper,grip,habaraca,Hendrixkat,holeinone1972,
icsoccer,indiananationals,jakeblue,JamesM,jhdfla,Joebb21,JonathanB,Kalshacon,
Keets,kryptonitecomics,KSteelheader,Lakesamman,LasVegasTeddy,LeeG,
LucyBop,mach19,MadMarty,MANOFCOINS,Manorcourtman,Meltdown,MisterTicToc,
**nesvt/wipoto**,Nocerino18,Numisma,oldwestgold,oreville,papabear,PreTurb,RedHerring,
rlarick,Rob41281,Robb,robkool,RPMHunter,RTS,SoCalBigMark,SeaEagleCoins,steelielee,Stone,sToner,
smittys,sumrytym,TexasNationals,thebigeng,tydye,TWQG,USmoneylover,
Walkerguy21D,WinLoseWin,wondercoin

PTVETTER

I was looking at the mercury dime set without the 1916-D or the 1921's. gredes went from high unc to low junk. Hammer price was like
$8000.00 plus the juice.

Coinosaurus

<< <i>IMHO, one of two scenarios took place with this consignment: either the auction house employed unskilled (non-numismatic) internal staff to grade and estimate pre-sale values, or an outside vendor was hired to perform the task, and conditions/values were represented in the hopes that the sale would fly under the radar to the benefit of collaborators of the appraisal firm. >>



In my experience, incompetence is seen far more often than conspiracy.

Hey, everything turned out OK here for the consignor. Plenty of experts not afraid to buy raw coins showed up, and market prices were paid. I heard, secondhand, that the consignors were earlier offered a fraction of what they ended up getting at auction.

LRCTom

I was there, since it's in my neighborhood, more or less. This collection was assembled in the '40s and '50s by a collector who clearly had an eye for quality that most collectors back then totally lacked. Most of the coins had been stored in Wayte Raymond holders (for 60+ years!), which accounted for the target toning seen on so many of the coins. He liked cameo proofs..that was clear..the silver 3-cents and the seated half dimes and dimes were amazing. And he understood the desirability of luster on his mint-state coins...some of these coins were simply awesome. I'm still drooling over that 1900 Barber Half and several of the Peace dollars, among many others. And...that 1878 Proof 20 cent? Incredible.

The auctioneers themselves have no clue about coins, numismatics, or how to catalog coins or conduct lot viewing. Their main business is antiques and oriental rugs. A few smart dealers brought their own lights...I was not so smart. I spent all day Friday and only saw half the lots or so, due to their one-by-one process, and not nearly enough employees. I found out later that calling ahead can allow you to see things privately..if they ever get a collection again, I'll do this for sure.

I only got 8 lots...I was pleased with what I bought, but I would have loved to owned a whole bunch more.

...Tom