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please list your knowledge of auction terminology
MikeKing
Posts: 847
I posted this accross the street.
Been thinking alot about descriptions and how repetitive they can be and how having collected for years, selling my collection off, making tons of mistakes (and probably still making them) there are some non-truths inherent within redundancy (if that makes any sense)
:::
blast white = the coin's been dipped and hasn't had a chance to yellow yet.
dusky grey = the coin looks like dirt
although... = although this is a [embarrassing lack of self control] coin, if you read this tortuous rendition, which says absolutely nothing and read it really hard trying to follow logic that is not really there, you might begin to believe it's worth bidding on.
foamy green = the coin looks like someone puked on it, but if they think of it as 'foamy', they'll think of the ocean in the Carribean and might be stupid enough to buy it.
We've seen thousands of blah blah blahs, but never one as pristine as this = they fall for that all the time...
This would satisfy the most finicky ... = maybe they won't notice the spot if we can make them think it's really not there and price tag is high enough.
This will surely find a home in a fine cabinet = yeah...you feel illustrious getting into the bidding fury because you want a 'fine' cabinet, so when you invite the Governor over for dinner, you'll have something to show him, then you actually get it, look at it long enough, realize you're never going to entertain royalty, you don't smoke cigars so there's no humidor on the end table, and that's just where the coin ends up... in your cabinet.
...for even the finest registry set.... = we're counting on you not knowing what the hell your doing and have full faith that we're giving you something no one else will have ... and hopefully won't notice that blaring stain we're trying so hard to make you not see...just dish out the money and buy the damned thing...
silky smooth surfaces = slightly dull because of prolonged emersion in urea
fully brilliant (and the coin starts at $5,000.00) = maybe they won't notice the tiny nicks and not realize that they can have an even more 'brilliant' one, a grade less and for less than half the money for this overgraded piece of [embarrassing lack of self control].
a typical strike for the issue = lousy strike but maybe they won't look any further, buy this one and not feel like they're settling for less.
high relief 1921 peace dollar = must have a lousier strike than the usual lousy strike so let's point out it's a high relief and maybe they won't look for something better and get this one off our hands...
fully struck = yes, you can see all the devices
just some observations of mine....
Been thinking alot about descriptions and how repetitive they can be and how having collected for years, selling my collection off, making tons of mistakes (and probably still making them) there are some non-truths inherent within redundancy (if that makes any sense)
:::
blast white = the coin's been dipped and hasn't had a chance to yellow yet.
dusky grey = the coin looks like dirt
although... = although this is a [embarrassing lack of self control] coin, if you read this tortuous rendition, which says absolutely nothing and read it really hard trying to follow logic that is not really there, you might begin to believe it's worth bidding on.
foamy green = the coin looks like someone puked on it, but if they think of it as 'foamy', they'll think of the ocean in the Carribean and might be stupid enough to buy it.
We've seen thousands of blah blah blahs, but never one as pristine as this = they fall for that all the time...
This would satisfy the most finicky ... = maybe they won't notice the spot if we can make them think it's really not there and price tag is high enough.
This will surely find a home in a fine cabinet = yeah...you feel illustrious getting into the bidding fury because you want a 'fine' cabinet, so when you invite the Governor over for dinner, you'll have something to show him, then you actually get it, look at it long enough, realize you're never going to entertain royalty, you don't smoke cigars so there's no humidor on the end table, and that's just where the coin ends up... in your cabinet.
...for even the finest registry set.... = we're counting on you not knowing what the hell your doing and have full faith that we're giving you something no one else will have ... and hopefully won't notice that blaring stain we're trying so hard to make you not see...just dish out the money and buy the damned thing...
silky smooth surfaces = slightly dull because of prolonged emersion in urea
fully brilliant (and the coin starts at $5,000.00) = maybe they won't notice the tiny nicks and not realize that they can have an even more 'brilliant' one, a grade less and for less than half the money for this overgraded piece of [embarrassing lack of self control].
a typical strike for the issue = lousy strike but maybe they won't look any further, buy this one and not feel like they're settling for less.
high relief 1921 peace dollar = must have a lousier strike than the usual lousy strike so let's point out it's a high relief and maybe they won't look for something better and get this one off our hands...
fully struck = yes, you can see all the devices
just some observations of mine....
2
Comments
"sold to the the fat benny hill look-a-like for way too much money"
unfortunately he means me.
Russ, NCNE
It's tough on the cataloguers - they walk a fine line. They have to do a sales job and at the same time be accurate enough to maintain their professional credibility. It's a lot tougher than just describing the coin.
were graded a point higher.
THIS IS A JUST MADE COIN THAT WOULD
SUPRISE US IF IT WERE GRADED A POINT LOWER.
____________________________________________________
The myriad colore on this coin would boggle a rainbow
IF YOU CONSIDER MUDDY BROWN, BLACK, AND GRAY , COLORS
OF THE RAINBOW, THEN YES IT IS REMARKABLE.
______________________________________________________
This coin actually defies description.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE TRUTH. THE POS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE
WITHOUT KILLING THE SALE.
Camelot
surprisingly scarce (not valuable enough to merit certification)
great eye appeal (says our cataloguer who carries a white cane)
near gem (it's not a gem, but we like keyword spamming)
undergraded (bumped a point on submission number 12)
finest we have seen in some time (since our last auction)
conditionally scarce (there are ten thousand in the next grade down and this one is an NGC example)
<< <i>This will surely find a home in a fine cabinet = yeah...you feel illustrious getting into the bidding fury because you want a 'fine' cabinet, so when you invite the Governor over for dinner, you'll have something to show him, then you actually get it, look at it long enough, realize you're never going to entertain royalty, you don't smoke cigars so there's no humidor on the end table, and that's just where the coin ends up... in your cabinet. >>
Dove gray = coin has zero luster.
Microscopic fly specks = carbon spots so severe a mole could see them from across the room.
Minor scuff = coin was dragged behind a race car in the Indy 500.
Spackling luster = dipped!
A collectible grade = only a novice would buy it.
Destined for the advanced collector = advanced collectors should look eslewhere.
ALERT - OLD POST RESURRECTION
I thought this was funny. I'm sure many members can add their experiences of witnessing flowery auction descriptions?
Here's one from an upcoming auction:
"Moderate mirrors (which is the way these came) beam from all over. The mirrors are exceptionally clean and sleek. The mirrors really appear when you twirl the coin. In fact, we used a strong glass to look around and found NO imperfections. There are many original colors on this beautiful piece. Rich chocolate brown/purple/olive/blue original colors swirl all over. There are no spots or discolorations. Miss Liberty and the details are needle sharp in strike. The eye appeal is fantastic!"
Black Beauty = Cooked in a car fire.
peacockcoins
Life long puzzle to me.
Show any Seated coin and 5 people on the spot will have to tell you the coin is dipped, cleaned, altered etc. Ask any expert and they will tell you that it is easier to shoot a hole in one on the moon than to find a Seated coin with original surfaces.
One in three auction and or dealer descriptions begin, "A strictly original piece with totally original surfaces." Never ceases to amaze me.
Excessively rare. I hate this one. It literally means too rare.
You absolutely can learn more from what's left out, especially on early coins. If you're looking at an AU or low MS bust coin and there's no explicit mention of luster be careful.
russet = brown
golden = brown
amber = brown
chestnut = brown
champagne = brown
bronze = brown
rust = brown
honey = brown
peach = brown
There are 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who do not.
an upgrade candidate = we've attempted to upgrade this coin 15 times and are giving up