Tag Archives: Capitol Auction

Capitol Auction’s Grading Excels!

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capitol
Capitol Auctions remains one of our favorite houses primarily because it does everything right, from low buyer’s premiums (with 2% cash discount) to sharp, expandable pictures and quick, reasonable shipping. What it does best is grade, so we’ll let screen shots from his Aug. 3 auction speak for themselves. (Be sure to click photos to expand and read descriptions.)


Recounts History in Descriptions

history

Uses the Right Coin Values Guide

rightguide

Knows Devices that Enhance Value (split full bands)

knowsdevices

Distinguishes Restrikes from Originals

nonrestrike

Notes Unmarked Errors

notesunmarkederrors


Corrects Grading Companies

correctsgrading

If you don’t know the numismatic terms used in this post, you have no worries because you can trust Capitol Auctions. We do.

Proxiblog is an independent entity with no connection to the auction portal Proxibid. Our intent is to uphold basic numismatic standards as established by the American Numismatic Association and the National Auctioneer Association and to ensure a pleasurable bidding experience not only on Proxibid but also on similar portals such as iCollector and AuctionZip.

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Feedback Loops

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It’s a simple idea, but long in coming to Proxibid, and that is a feedback box where bidders can inform the company’s quality control about their experience with an auction house.

We like the idea of badges, especially the one that notes the smallest complaint rate on the portal. But we’re not too convinced that customer service gets all the complaints that happen on Proxibid, particularly because the company does not showcase an online prominently displayed feedback box.

We also like the badges that Proxibid is designating to certain auctions. That’s a big step, and it sets the company apart from others. But Proxibid can go further.
With a feedback box, all those badges, including the strategic partnership Gold Ribbon, would truly mean something because Proxibid would have evidence–patterns of service, abuse, or practice.

Our rankings in the sidebar to the right are meaningful because they are based on experience. When we get complaints about some of the auctions, we respond accordingly in the monthly rankings. When we get praise, we also respond positively. Our experiences also count. We think two auctions are viewing bids and not carrying a transparency notice. We got coins billed as uncirculated that were sliders worth a fraction of cost. Then again we won wonderful lots from Western Auction, Key Date Coins, Capitol Auction and Leonard Auction last month, bidding with confidence and often scoring lower than our maximums because of the company’s best practices.

Now that’s something to tout!

Boos & Booyahs: Best & Bad Auctioneer Lot Descriptions

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When items warrant, Proxiblog will lament and compliment best and bad auctioneer lot descriptions in this light-hearted feature. We will name the best, but you will have to search Proxibid for the bad. (Click pictures to expand and view lot descriptions)

Booyah! To Meares Auctions for being proud of its 10% buyer’s fee and showcasing that in its email blasts! Meares keeps on improving customer service and consignments. Kudos atop booyahs!

Boo! to this unnamed auctioneer who not only posts blurred, impossible pictures but also lists a 1966 clad Quarter Dollar as “40% silver.” Why sell online if you cannot provide the visuals, let along accurate lot descriptions?

Booyah! To Capitol Auctions for a detailed historical description of “CONSTANTINE THE GREAT” ancient coin. It takes time to write accurate lot descriptions, especially on coins, but they lure the high-rollers and Capitol knows that, explaining its top-caliber consignments.

Booyah! to Silvertowne Auctions for identifying rim damage on a coin whose picture does not readily show that. Silvertowne tops our list of best online auction houses because of its expert numismatist who writes the best lot descriptions on Proxibid!

Boo! to this unnamed auction house that thinks a $4 mint set is “an investment” and wants 15% buyer’s fee plus $19.95 shipping to send it!

Boo! to this unnamed auctioneer who used the same picture for several Carson City dollars without noting that a stock photo was being used (or the same in-house photo for each GSA Moorgan). Why do auctioneers take shortcuts with photos when contracting with an online portal like Proxibid?!

Booyah! To Big Fellows Auction in its first Proxibid auction for accurate lot descriptions, including this one noting the tube of silver eagles were pristine out of a monster box (when some eagles of dubious condition are often just stored in such a tube).

Boo! to this unnamed auction house that took a picture of a US Mint box without also photographing the coins inside, not only on this but on eight similar lots, which confuses us, as there is gold inside … unless wanting to give the onsite audience an edge because they have access to the coins on display. We don’t like to think that, even though none of the sets containing gold sold to Proxibidders. That’s just probably an outcome of an auction house taking shortcuts with digital photography. There are no visual shortcuts in online coin selling. That’s a good lesson with which to end this post!

Viewers can point us to other candidates for our “Boos & Booyahs!” series. Just leave a comment but follow our rules–all in good fun as a way to inspire accurate lot descriptions on Proxibid.

Proxiblog is an independent entity with no connection to the auction portal Proxibid. Our intent is to uphold basic numismatic standards as established by the American Numismatic Association and the National Auctioneer Association and to ensure a pleasurable bidding experience not only on Proxibid but also on similar portals such as iCollector and AuctionZip.