Why So Expensive?

When you gotta have it, you gotta have it. But I don't think it's worth $125 at all. I'd pay around $20, maybe a little more for it, that's all.

One other possibility.

Maybe the lighting on the ebay listed picture was such that it didn't highlight the fact that the coin was "silvered" and maybe the seller forgot to mention the coin was silvered or didn't realize that it was silvered until one of the bidders messaged him and inquired about it.

ebay doesn't let you "revise" your listing after a certain point.(Not sure, but I think it may be last 24 hours when no revisions are allowed)

Furthermore, since the bidding was clearly between two determined players, it is possible the seller would then have sent a message to the other bidder to let him know of the silvering.

I know, I have a wild imagination.

Regards,

-Kurt

ebay can be weird at times - about the same time the campgate sold the following Maximinus II also did:

Its a while since I've seen such a good quality, honest coin, and of a scarcer Emperor to boot! I was going to bid but thought it would easily go over $150 so in the end didn't bother. It sold for $41.20! Dang, I wish I had bid!

Is the campgate 3x better than this, no way, its not even close to this coin in stamp, centring, artistry, quality, rarity, or even size!

I have 2400 feedback on ebay and over 5000 sales and it still mystifies me sometimes.

For a reason that has escaped me, there has been a lack of respect for coins of the Second Tetrarchy. Conversely, a number of people recently have specialized in campgates. Some will even say that the large number of Genius coins are boring because they are all alike (not so) but still care about dots, rows, doors and the like. There are websites on campgates so it is easy to feel supported in that collection. Also this Maximinus photo is not impressive. You can tell the coin is decent if you look but it does not grab the eye of someone scanning through hundreds of lots. Some of my best purchases on ebay have been from people with poor photo skills. Finally, I'd say the Maximinus sold for close to a fair price. The question remains why the campgate sold for so much more.