bobh Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Look at lots 1029 and 1031, 50 kopecks 1899-FZ (1x) and 1900 (3x). Am I the only one that sees a discrepancy between the images and the descriptions? More specifically, I would not call these "uncirculated", much less "nice uncirculated" or "choice uncirculated". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candidate Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 There were such discrepancies before. For example, auction 19 lot 928 included 3 x 50 Kopecks 1899AГ described as "About uncirculated (3)". But when the winner sent them to NGC, only one of them in fact got AU58 grade !!!! Isn't it a terrible discrepancy ?? (the other 2 got MS64 and MS66 respectively) ... In general, I'd advise not to judge coins by picture in the catalogue. If you have a possibility, it's always better to go and see them with your own eyes. (IMHO) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 It is nice to have discrepancies such as the ones you describe, of course. Grading is always going to be somewhat subjective. Since I live in Zurich, I'll try to find time this week to look at them in person. As to the three coins in lot 1031, I would have expected the printed catalog at least to mention the graffiti on both of the other coins not pictured (all of the coins in that lot are pictured in the Internet catalog). Just curious, does the seller write his own descriptions? Or Sincona? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted October 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 I looked at these coins today and some others. The descriptions are accurate, except for the lack of mention of the graffiti. The pictures do NOT do these coins justice! I look forward to placing my bids in person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Any news from Sincona? I keep getting outbid messages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted October 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Any news from Sincona? I keep getting outbid messages. Today was only the first day. I intend to go tomorrow to bid in person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Most of results are up. I've been outbid on all lots. A couple of times just by 25 CHF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted October 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 I sat in all day today. I was the underbidder for lot 1029. In spite of my initial reservations, it was actually a very nice coin, but I can't see paying more than 800 to 1,000 for it. There was a tag from the original collector (presumably) in its holder where it was marked "AU". By today's grading standards, it would probably grade MS-62 or perhaps MS-63, IMHO. I still don't understand how lot 1095 got to be so expensive (it's not a proof, either)! Tried to bid on the 1912 Borodino rouble but without any success. Oh well, now at least I have some more money to invest in stocks... or in other coins... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Looks like Sincona is recession proof! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted October 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Looks like Sincona is recession proof! I'm wondering who the collector was. There are so many rarities here that it might be able to find out who it was by deduction. For example, lot 1077 (pattern 25 kopecks 1911 in nickel). There were only 5 pieces struck. This one belonged to King Farouk and later to Randolph Zander, according to the description (what does "via private treaty" mean?). Most of the quoted collector notes in the descriptions are in idiomatic English and display a great deal of knowledge about varieties, things that were not documented even by Severin. Also, the collector was familiar with GDM, Ilyin and all of the famous auctions (Hess, etc.) It must have been someone close to the Russian Numismatic Society in America, IMHO. The only person close to the RNS selling his collection recently has been RW Julian, but I think he has been selling his coins through Jim Elmen's WWCC auctions. Who else could it be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 I thought it was universally agreed that the collection belonged to Sodermann. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKB Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Some of those coins did at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 I thought it was universally agreed that the collection belonged to Sodermann. Thank you, alexbq2! I think you must be right ... perhaps it was even announced in Sincona's auction catalog of the first part? Here is an interesting page about Södermann's biography (in Russian) which also contains a few paragraphs by Randolph Zander about him: http://staraya-moneta.ru/biography/832/ Since he lived out his last years in Switzerland, it would make sense that his family must be selling the rest of his collection through Sincona. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Some of those coins did at some point. Haven't heard of any other candidates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Thank you, alexbq2! I think you must be right ... perhaps it was even announced in Sincona's auction catalog of the first part? Sincona never announced who's collection this was. They just refer to it as The Sincona collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extant4cell Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Only the articles that were written for / about Sincona auctions prompt at that very persistently... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IgorS Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 I bought one coin, just to remember the auction by. Nothing big,from the bottom of my list, but still plugged a hole. Now we are enjoying Florence, which more tban makes up for not getting some coins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 I bought one coin, just to remember the auction by. Nothing big,from the bottom of my list, but still plugged a hole. Now we are enjoying Florence, which more tban makes up for not getting some coins. Enjoy your trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 What was the deal with Lot 280 that had the 1790 EM 5 Kopecks with a Wallachia crest stamped into the shield? P.S. This may be a rhetorical question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extant4cell Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Interesting question Alex... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted October 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 Have any of you looked at the prices realized list yet? At the end, there is a list of unsold lots. Very many of the lots which were offered in the last part of Sincona 24 did not sell. Most are silver minor denominations (5, 10, 20 kopecks etc.) in high grade, mostly in slabs. Is it because of the higher estimates? The slabs? Or did all of the Russian buyers just decide to leave after the close of Tuesday's auction (perhaps to save one night's hotel expense)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extant4cell Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Change Auction to 26 (Russia) and press "results" link on a top of coins list twice for unsold Russian lots: https://auktionen.sincona.com/Auktion/Onlinekatalog#ankermain_auktion_losFilter_ebene0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 They pale in comparison to all those minors in Proof that were sold at the end of the main part of the Sincona collection. BTW, I did win the 1798 AM Denga! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted October 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 BTW, I did win the 1798 AM Denga! Congratulations, alexbq2! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKB Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 They pale in comparison to all those minors in Proof that were sold at the end of the main part of the Sincona collection. BTW, I did win the 1798 AM Denga! Very good coin. Scarce in good condition. I had 3, all are ugly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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