Shameful eBay auction

[goodeknight]

Just came across these TWO auctions on eBay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ancient-ARTI...item43a921c65f
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ancient-ARTI...item43a926e54c
The seller put the front and the back of a single reliquary cross in two different auctions.

I sent him an email telling him it was shameful -- taking a single artifact and selling it off as two separate pieces. I mean, it's been one reliquary cross for 500-1000 years, according to his writeup. But he's willing to split it in half to make an extra 59 bucks.

I know it was broken, but it still pains me.

[goodeknight]

Originally Posted by goodeknight

Just came across these TWO auctions on eBay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ancient-ARTI...item43a921c65f
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ancient-ARTI...item43a926e54c
The seller put the front and the back of a single reliquary cross in two different auctions.

I sent him an email telling him it was shameful -- taking a single artifact and selling it off as two separate pieces. I mean, it's been one reliquary cross for 500-1000 years, according to his writeup. But he's willing to split it in half to make an extra 59 bucks.

I know it was broken, but it still pains me.

UPDATE: Well, the seller got back to me in a few minutes, and asked which auctions I was talking about. I emailed him back, and within a few minutes he'd taken down the auctions with the plan of selling the two pieces together as one reliquary cross.

That's my good deed for the day.

[Rocket Surgeon]

How do they verify any of that though?

[goodeknight]

Originally Posted by Rocket Surgeon

How do they verify any of that though?

Verify what? That they are from the same cross?

[Rocket Surgeon]

Originally Posted by goodeknight

Verify what? That they are from the same cross?

That its an "Ancient ARTIFACT".

"This artifact is guaranteed to be an authentic ground dug artifact dating to Medieval times, 500 to 1000 years old or possibly older."

"This item was found in the Balkans with a metal detector."

"I have viewed this item under a microscope to aid in authentication."

"I am not an expert but will try to answer your questions the best I can."

[goodeknight]

Originally Posted by Rocket Surgeon

That its an "Ancient ARTIFACT".

"This artifact is guaranteed to be an authentic ground dug artifact dating to Medieval times, 500 to 1000 years old or possibly older."

"This item was found in the Balkans with a metal detector."

"I have viewed this item under a microscope to aid in authentication."

"I am not an expert but will try to answer your questions the best I can."

Now I gotcha. Yeah, I know a high percentage of "artifacts" on eBay are two years old. A few hours to make it, and then two years buried in the back yard with a lump of charcoal. Or some other method of aging.

Best indications I see of people selling true antiquities are when their other auctions include piles of broken bits and pieces sold as lots, and when the bulk of their items are relatively insignificant. A broken half of a cross. A cracked crotal bell. Three thimbles. Etc.

The "microscope" bit is a mystery to me. But I do believe his items are genuine antiquities. And now it seems the two halves of the reliquary cross are staying together.

[WilliamBoyd8]

He has some ancient Roman coins for sale,
at prices much higher than most sellers charge.

[HovitosKing]

I'm sure it had the date inscribed on it. All that old crap has born-on dates on the bottom.