[hcv123]

Originally Posted by Empty77

It's weird but I don't know what it is. But it has been happening for some time over the past 2 yrs not only just in the past little while. And also I think for Aaron and Mays too, so not necessarily to do with Clemente specifically.

Perhaps it is a flight to other quality after people are finally tiring of Mantle?? (said, looking over a shoulder and then ducking out of sight)

It doesn't make a lot of sense given the relative stability of all these issues in the mid-single-digit thousands range for the past many years. And that with pop counts of a dozen to several dozen even in that grade they aren't exactly scarce (even if always being competitive). Tack on the unresolved alteration scandals that cast a shadow over all, and it seems crazy.

Maybe the sales aren't all real, and just another round of 'buyer's club' shenanigans that has been revealed in the past. Otherwise it makes little sense since those valuations don't seem sustainable over the long term (there aren't enough people with enough wealth to drop in cash as much as they might take out in a five year loan for a luxury sedan, instead for mid-career-era possibly-altered-cards that aren't particularly rare, given that one or more routinely comes up for resale month after month after month).

It could be well-off individuals, with few current expenses, successful retirement portfolios, a sudden sense of mortality and hankering to enjoy things they like while they can ... and hence in a rush to bid and not concerned about valuation. But if so, see segment above, that that's not likely a sustainable valuation model for anyone expecting to perpetually sell for more than they once paid.

(just my off-hand analysis)

That said, I believe most if not all of the cards were "old grades" and the few I looked at, not the strongest cards.