How much of a gap is there between the time bids need to be in and the winners receiving their coins? If the auction coincides with BTC in one of its bubble phases, it makes you wonder who'll be doing a better job of price discovery - the auction bidders or the retail markets...
If I remember rightly with previous auctions the coins moved very rapidly post sale. What's more interesting is when bidding closes. I assume everyone's revising their ideas right now.
Just had a look. Bidding registration closed yesterday. Actual bidding takes place over a 6 hour period on November 5th. The winner is informed the day after.
http://www.usmarshals.gov/news/chron/2015/100515.htm
Will see in no time, hope is not going down for this or at december because of the XT discussion.