Featured Michael Baggotts silver collection

Most of you silver collectors know about the recent death of U.K. silver expert Michael Baggott. Some of his collection has just been sold. Some very rare pieces I believe. Another sale to come as they didn’t want to flood the market.

 

Here’s a couple of the star lots.

 

I know they make estimates lower to get more interest but is that what happened here, or the "celebrity" association made people bonkers??

 

Michael Baggott was popular both professionally and personally, known for his knowledge and his generosity - 'rare' is such an overused term, but he often shared genuinely rare pieces, with clear explanation of the reasons for their rarity. Personally, didn't know him other than from his videos, but he is sincerely mourned by many silver collectors, some good friends of his...

~Cheryl

 

Well if it's some of his friends and colleagues who are boosting the prices in order to get sentimental items then that's a happy outcome for everyone. I hope they all got something special.

 

Auction estimates are just that, not uncommon for selling prices to go well beyond the estimates or well below the estimates, a reserve might not be met, or could even just pass without any bids. Would suspect the high bids are primarily due to the rarity of the pieces, a collector will often pay more for something they might never see offered again, though the added provenance of coming from Baggott's or other well-known collections is nice too...

~Cheryl

 

They're called estimates, but sometimes they're guesstimates. If the item is rare as could be and there are no comperables, anything can happen. Sometimes you get a fizzle (it's so darned rare nobody's even looking for it), and sometimes it goes to the moon.

 

Some auction houses definitely employ “come get me” estimates as a strategy at times. What everyone else said is true too though. I wish I had known about this sale ahead of time. I was a huge admirer/fan of Baggot. I learned so much from his weekly silver videos on YouTube while he was doing them. I was looking forward to a many more years of absorbing his knowledge and humor. Such a pity his life was cut so short. His brilliance in the field was matched on by his sarcastic, self deprecating wit and willingness to poke at the establishment. I hate paying high shipping rates but I’d love to own a little piece of his collection. Maybe I’ll bid in the next auction. Any details on that one?

 

Some online outfits start everything at US$1 and the price goes where the price goes. Sometimes things sell for a few dollars, if they sell at all. Others... to the Moon, Alice! Sellers should only do this when they know they'll make money overall, and they don't have much in the items to begin with.

 

@MrNate ....... if u can pull yourself away from the Silver forum.....