Lot Preparation Guide

In numismatics and philately, buyers cannot hold the piece, so they rely on the photos alone. A poor photo means a lower price, directly.

• Both sides — for coins, medals, banknotes and stamps, without exception.
• Diffuse daylight. Direct sun and flash hide surface wear; the buyer is disappointed on seeing the item and opens a dispute.
• A flat, plain background. Grey or black velvet works well; a patterned tablecloth swallows detail.
• Scale. Place a ruler or a familiar object in the shot; the diameter in mm should also go in the catalogue record.
• Photograph flaws separately. Scratches, holes, repairs, traces of mending or cleaning — take a close-up instead of hiding them. A declared flaw is not grounds for a dispute; a hidden one is.
• For certified items, photograph the slab label legibly (the NGC/PCGS number must be verifiable).

The title is not the only field matched in search, but it carries the most weight. Pattern: Period/Country · Ruler or series · Type · Date · Mint/Number.

• Right: Ottoman · Abdulhamid II · 100 Kurus Gold · 1293/25 · Constantinople
• Wrong: Rare old gold coin — don't miss it!!

Do not shout in capitals, do not add exclamation marks, and do not make unverifiable claims such as "very rare". With experienced collectors these raise suspicion, not trust.

Condition is chosen from the list in the system and must not be overstated. Writing it one grade higher raises the price in the short term; in the long term it brings disputes, returns and a lower seller rating.

A cleaned coin, a pressed banknote, a re-glued stamp — each must be stated separately. In the collecting world, cleaning is a flaw, not an improvement.

When you choose a category, fields specific to that category open: weight, diameter, fineness, catalogue number (KM, Pick, Michel, Scott), year of issue, mint. These fields are used for both filtering and search — a field left empty means the lot cannot be found.

The provenance (where it was acquired) must be stated for every lot: inheritance, an old collection, an auction purchase, imported from abroad. Selling objects obtained through treasure hunting or excavation is a crime under Law No. 2863, and such lots are not published.

In registration-bound categories (archaeological objects, ethnographic objects, manuscripts) a museum registration certificate is mandatory. A lot without the document does not pass moderation.

A low opening price attracts more bids; the secret minimum sale price already protects you. Setting the minimum above market value, however, leads to the lot closing unsold: if the live round does not reach that price, there is no sale and the lot closes as "passed".

When collectors say "reserve bid" they mean their own secret ceiling. To avoid confusion, on the platform we call the seller's floor the minimum sale price and the buyer's upper limit the ceiling.

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