Stacks Bowers Americana Sale This Week
pruebas
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Anybody follow the (post-Baltimore) Americana Sale?
I was following the Bolen material and thought it was mostly weak.
Thoughts?
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Saw three John Paul Jones Naval Medals - NA-1. More than I’ve seen in a single auction in quite some time.
No NYNC medals, sadly
I was following, and I largely agree with your assessment on the Bolen material. What a great opportunity for a specialist, but some big losses for the consignor. Some examples:
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Oof. Thats quite a loss.
God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️
Exactly. That's what I thought too.
Anyone know any rationale why? No Bolen collectors with funds at this time?
I bought a few of interest to me. Perhaps most of them went to dealers.
Could just be bad luck. Or, maybe the underbidders in 2021 weren't present at the sale?
God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️
Seems like a very thin market for those.
10-4,
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My registry sets
I think there were simply too many rare, high value items in one sale. It's a niche market. I wouldn't necessarily say thin, but all exonumia is fairly thinly traded when you compare tokens and medals to US coins. Bolen is very popular, but I don't know too many people that are trying to collect everything he made.
I picked up his two storecards from 1864. One in copper, and the other that may be unique in brass
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
The E Pluribus Unum sale (Nov 2021 that you referenced) had many nice high-grade, rare Bolen pieces in one sale, and that didn’t prevent runaway prices.
So I don’t think too many at once is the reason.
While this group were rare mules in a variety of metals, the grades were a bit on the low side overall. Maybe that’s not what current collectors are looking for?
2021 did yield "Covid pricing" in many markets so it is also possible that those prices were artificially high.
Just take a moment and think about the number of coins/medals in an auction and then look at the auction calendars for various auction houses. There seems to be a condensed timetable in terms of frequency for more coins/medals coming to the market through auctions than ever before. And it is having a profound effect not just on valuations but perceived rarity.
Certain condition rarities will remain; however, valuations will fluctuate.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I had an interest in an 1806 large cent in AU-53, CAC. As usual another guy wanted it more. I bid the retail prices for next grade up and beyond and still didn’t get it. It was double struck with some dentiles on the portrait. I viewed that as a negative. I hope I find one at FUN.