My newp from today's SB auction (and some casual observations)
EVillageProwler
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I followed the auction from after the ancients (since I know too little about them to form any meaningful observation) and for those areas where I know a bit about, I thought the results to be unpredictable (high and low, per my expectations).
For the Austrians, lot 20145 is a Archduke Leopold taler in 66 that sold at $3,055 (all prices are +BP unless explicitly stated). That is low IMO. Even if the coin was a nice 65 or 65+ in a 66 holder, it's closer to $4K. A paid of 2T in 64 and 63 sold for almost $5K and $3.7K, which is a nice sign for those looking to sell but not so much looking for bargains. The 1486 guldiner (lot 20163) brought a whopping $9.4K even though it's repaired (EF details). An Austrian Netherlands Insurrection crown in 63 also sold higher than expected. But a Salzburg in 65 (lot 20161) sold for almost $1.3K, which seems a bit soft to me. I'd have expected closer to $2K (around $1.7K or so).
The Germans States coins seemed a bit so-so to me (of the ones I was eyeing): neither high nor low. The ones that had reserves too high were passed, and that seems right to me. One lot that I wanted went for much higher than I had expected: lot 20407, a Saxony taler in 64. Common coin, but with attractive colorful toning, selling at almost $2.3K. A bit high, considering a nice common date Saxony taler in 65 around that period costs around $3.5K.
Of the Anglo-Saxon/British lots that I had been eyeing, prices seemed so-so to me as well. Lot 20427 is a rare Aethelred I penny, AU details (env damage), that sold for $2,350. I didn't see the lot in hand so can't tell how bad the environmental damage actually is. If it's just slight corrosion, then the price could've been a steal. (I can see a British dealer trying to sell it for ~ $5K as a raw coin.)
Lot 20430, Harold I penny in 62, seems like a generous grade. The proper British grade probably would be GVF which usually translates to a US TPG grade range of 50 to 55. Assuming a correct British grade of GVF, the $1527 price seems reasonable to me.
The lot I won, 20431, is to my eye a very attractive Edward the Confessor penny of the Sovereign/Eagles type. Slabbed as 58, it will be liberated as soon as I get it. To my eye, and going by the image, its correct British grade is either Near EF or full EF. I expect I will be very happy with this; I've wanted a nice ETC Sov/Eagles type for a while but they've been hard to find with both nice strike and attractive patina.
GREAT BRITAIN. Penny, ND (ca. 1056-59). Edward the Confessor (1042-66). NGC AU-58.
S-1181; North-827. King enthroned; Reverse: Cross with eagles in quadrants. Good strike with lovely iridescent toning and strong underlying luster. Full legends on both sides and quite attractive.
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I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
Comments
The "Aethelred I" appears to be a mislabeled Alfred the Great. (AELBRED usually thought to be a miswritten AELFRED)
I have not been buying actively recently so I missed it. I agree that it was a good deal, assuming the surfaces aren't horrendous
Congrats on the Edward penny, nice example!
I agree that lot 20145 went low. It has been owned by a couple of forum members and it is a very intricate piece.
https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-7V0S1
Congrats on the imaged piece. I like the overall look of it.
Thanks guys!
OMG, how could I have missed it!!! On the insert, it even said Alfred. That would make it SCBC 1057, not 1055. Personally, I think SCBC 1055 is rarer than the 1057, but any Alfred coin gets a premium simply due to the monarch.
Now that you mention it, I think I know one of the prior owners (and I now think I know the coin). I can't venture a guess on any other prior owners though...
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com