$26,290 final.
That is astounding. In 2009 or early 2010, there were two of these 9.4s that sold within a month of each other on CL for around $4300 a piece. I do not know if they were bidding style auctions or in the seller/marketplace listing.
A 9.6 slab sometime in 2011 sold for $22K on CL as well.
So given the multiple on the 9.4 went up 6X where would you peg the hammer price on the 9.6 presently - looks like a 6 figure book now?
Good question. I don't think you are far off. It is hard to imagine a $100,000 bronze age book, but that would be the one.
If a 9.8 ever shows up, that would do it.
Someone sent me a message and pointed out there was a previous sale of the other 9.6 before the sale above I mentioned and that one was for $26K (which at that point in time it looks like the census was only one.)
The census on this issue has not budged in many years now (talking about @ 9.6 that is) there are still only two. Never say never, but the hammer price on a hypothetical 9.8 would shock some folks for sure.
Out of the current two 9.6s though it looks like they are both tied up in private collections. Its been over five years now and if one of these were owned by a speculator you would think it would have surfaced by now given the multiples on the lower grades.