What would YOU have done? Auction pilfering....?
tincup
Posts: 5,479 ✭✭✭✭✭
Just got done checking out items that will be getting auctioned off later tonight. This is at a local auction barn, that regularly hold auctions.... of estates, consignments, etc., inside their facilities. They typically do not sort items well; usually have tables filled with boxes that contain sometimes related items, sometimes not. It is not unusual to find items that are worth $100 mixed in with a box of otherwise junk items, etc. So one must inspect the boxes carefully and know what is in them, and recognize the box when the auctioneer throws it up on the table to sell...... sometimes you can get a really good deal. Sometimes they take a few individual items out of each box to sell, but typically they go by the boxful.
Bear with me... this IS coin related!! Anyways, I ran across a flat box that was filled with... old ammunition, brass casings, a few boxes of shells, and a couple of clips etc. Then I noticed.... there were some tokens also in the bottom of the box! Checking them out, there were around 5 really neat local Kansas trade tokens.... ones I do not have and have not commonly seen. This definitely got my interest.... there were a few other common tax tokens in the box also.
I continue to look at other items, then decide it is time to leave and consider coming back later that evening to bid. Decided to take one last look at those tokens, to do some quick research on the towns, etc. GONE! All that remained in the box were 2 common tax tokens. I look in some of the adjacent boxes, thinking someone might have.... tucked them away... but found no trace of them. It appears that some one decided to put them into their pocket for 'safekeeping'.
When I started looking the auction items over, I was the only one there. The time I was there, there were approximately 4 other individuals that came in to 'look' items over. None of them stayed too long. I did not notice which ones looked at the box I am mentioning.
The only auction company employee at the site was in the outer room... where they cannot see what takes place in the back room where everything is set up.
What did I do? Nothing. Felt there was nothing that I could do. I had no proof... and did not know any of the other individuals that were looking the merchandise over. Just really feel disgusted.... I would have bid fairly well to get the tokens.... and it appears that they were lifted by some sticky fingers in the brief amount of time that I was there.
So... what would YOU have done? What other things have you seen at auctions similar to this?
Bear with me... this IS coin related!! Anyways, I ran across a flat box that was filled with... old ammunition, brass casings, a few boxes of shells, and a couple of clips etc. Then I noticed.... there were some tokens also in the bottom of the box! Checking them out, there were around 5 really neat local Kansas trade tokens.... ones I do not have and have not commonly seen. This definitely got my interest.... there were a few other common tax tokens in the box also.
I continue to look at other items, then decide it is time to leave and consider coming back later that evening to bid. Decided to take one last look at those tokens, to do some quick research on the towns, etc. GONE! All that remained in the box were 2 common tax tokens. I look in some of the adjacent boxes, thinking someone might have.... tucked them away... but found no trace of them. It appears that some one decided to put them into their pocket for 'safekeeping'.
When I started looking the auction items over, I was the only one there. The time I was there, there were approximately 4 other individuals that came in to 'look' items over. None of them stayed too long. I did not notice which ones looked at the box I am mentioning.
The only auction company employee at the site was in the outer room... where they cannot see what takes place in the back room where everything is set up.
What did I do? Nothing. Felt there was nothing that I could do. I had no proof... and did not know any of the other individuals that were looking the merchandise over. Just really feel disgusted.... I would have bid fairly well to get the tokens.... and it appears that they were lifted by some sticky fingers in the brief amount of time that I was there.
So... what would YOU have done? What other things have you seen at auctions similar to this?
----- kj
0
Comments
Russ, NCNE
I don't remember seeing what you describe, but have seen many instances of people taking items out of several boxes to make up one really good box and mentioned it to the auctioneer. Most people don't realize there are different consigners and such, so he fixed it, and saw what they were fussing about and put them in the normal auction line-up instead of the box lots. They paid about 20x what they would have if they would have just left things alone.
I agree with Russ in your case, would have told them what you saw so they can take appropriate measures for the future.
"You Suck Award" - February, 2015
Discoverer of 1919 Mercury Dime DDO - FS-101
I did not report it, because I tried once before to correct an item there, and it did no good. At that time, they advertised they had a some good coins for sale... including an 1885 key date V nickel! When I checked it out, I found it to be in rough shape, darker, and seemed not quite right. I checked it with a glass, and found it to be an 1895! The darker toning made it harder to see the actual date. When I reported it, the auctioneer just kind of nervously said, well, the consignor says it is an 1885.....
They auctioned it off as an 1885.
So that experience kind of held me back....
With these tokens, they were just misc type items that were thrown in the box. As mentioned, the boxes contain non-related items. Guess the auctioneer did not think the tokens were coin related enough to separate out.
Needless to say... I did not return to attend the auction....
If you see them on ebay you can check the seller location, if it is listed, to see if it is a probable match.