Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin auction house, will host their Baltimore Rarities Sale in July at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, just prior to the ANA World’s Fair of Money. The auction of nearly 1,300 lots will be presented on Saturday, July 26, with lot viewing scheduled for Thursday to Saturday, July 24-26, and lot pick-up on Sunday, July 27. The catalog includes approximately 1,100 coin and 200 currency lots.

At the top of the highlights list is an impressive 1866-S No Motto Liberty Double Eagle graded MS-60 by NGC. It is described as a High Condition Census example, one of only three Mint State examples known to PCGS and NGC, and the type of Mint State rarity that is not often available to collectors for purchase. Although Winter and Crum were unaware of any Mint State examples of the 1866-S No Motto in numismatic circles, PCGS and NGC have since certified a few coins at that level. The total is limited to just three pieces, however, the finest of which grades only MS-61. Clearly a very rare coin from both absolute and condition standpoints, the BU example that Bowers and Merena is offering represents a fleeting bidding opportunity for the advanced collector of 19th century U.S. gold coinage.

“Bowers and Merena just returned from a very successful June auction in Baltimore where we realized over $6.2 million, and there was already a lot of talk and enthusiasm among attendees to return to Baltimore in July,” said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. “We have a fantastic selection of very special coin and currency lots and we are looking forward to presenting an exceptional rarities auction that serious collectors will really appreciate.”

Additional highlights of note include an 1808 Capped Bust Left Quarter Eagle, BD-1, HBCC-3017, the only known dies, Rarity-4, graded MS-61 by NGC. This is an elusive and significant One-Year Type, one of no more than 150 Capped Bust Left Quarter Eagles that are estimated to remain to meet the demand of both early gold specialists and type collectors, the latter group, in particular, representing an ever-growing segment of the numismatic market. Also, notable is a lovely prooflike 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, Small Eagle, BD-8, HBCC-3041, Miller-10, Rarity-5+, graded MS-63 PL by NGC, a nice coin, and a rarer die pairing of this historically significant and extremely popular federal gold issue. (more…)

Highlights Include Sale of Exceptional 1801 Capped Bust Right Eagle in PCGS MS-64 and Fr. 114 1901 $10 Legal Tender Note S/N 1, PCGS Very Fine 30PPQ

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin auction house, posted another highly successful outing in Baltimore as Official Auctioneer of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention. More than 3,000 lots crossed the block in three sessions June 5-6, 2008, realizing $6,258,873.

“The June Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention is the kick-off to the summer show season and we were very pleased with the attendance at the show and our three sessions of live bidding. Bidding was very active for coins as well as currency and we are happy with the results,” said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. “All three sessions were very busy and we were glad to see many bidders join us for their very first auctions, alongside our regular bidders that we look forward to seeing each time we come to Baltimore. The atmosphere in the auction room and on the bourse floor was lively and enthusiastic and I am looking forward to what the rest of the summer season brings.”

Highlights from the June Baltimore auction include the sale of Lot 3733, an 1801 Capped Bust Right Eagle, BD-2, HBCC-3194, Taraszka-25, Rarity-2 in PCGS MS-64 that realized $111,550, an impressive near-Gem considered a glorious representative of the Large Eagle Capped Bust Right Ten.

Another extraordinary highlight came from the currency session, Lot 2537, a Fr. 114, 1901 $10 Legal Tender Note S/N 1, PCGS Very Fine 30PPQ, that realized a remarkable $80,500. The historical importance of this note goes without saying, as it is the first 1901 $10 Legal Tender Note to have ever been printed, and it is the first of the nine Friedberg numbers assigned to this design type. (more…)

OFFICIAL AUCTIONEER OF THE BALTIMORE COIN AND CURRENCY CONVENTION

Highlights Include Exceptional 1854 Type II Gold Dollar in NGC MS-68 and 1920-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle in NGC MS-63

[UPDATED] IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin auction house, returns as Official Auctioneer of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention, with the next auction scheduled for June 4-7, 2008, at the Baltimore Convention Center. This is the second of three official Baltimore auctions by Bowers and Merena in 2008, continuing their longstanding and ongoing association with the convention.

The auction boasts more than 3,000 coin and currency lots and an impressive list of highlights. Topping the list is Lot 3544, a captivating 1854 Type II Gold Dollar rarity certified MS-68 by NGC that is tied with only one other NGC MS-68 as the finest-known 1854 Type II Gold Dollar. This particular specimen possesses razor sharp detail throughout and is perfectly complemented by exceptionally smooth, virtually pristine surfaces. Also worthy of note are Lot 3980, a choice uncirculated 1920-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle certified MS-63 by NGC, considered to be a legendary condition rarity in the Saint-Gaudens Series; and Lot 3733, a beautiful near-gem 1801 Capped Bust Right Eagle, BD-2, HBCC-3194, Taraszka-25, Rarity-2, certified MS-64 by PCGS.

Leading the list of extraordinary currency highlights are Lot 2537, a Fr. 114. 1901 $10 Legal Tender Note. PCGS Very Fine 30PPQ. S/N 1; and Lot 2630, a Fr. 282. 1923 $5 Silver Certificate Star Note. PCGS Superb Gem New 67PPQ.

“Every trip to Baltimore is a much-anticipated event for us at Bowers and Merena,” said Steve Deeds, president. “There is such a strong contingent of coin and currency enthusiasts at every show and we go to great lengths to bring the best selection possible for our auctions. This June auction is no exception, very strong across the board with a wide variety of quality pieces for all interests and all levels of collecting.”

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IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena, realized an impressive $5.9 million with its 1,000-lot Chicago Rarities Sale. The auction was conducted in a single session on April 15, 2008, with Internet bidding taking place prior to the sale through the Bowers and Merena website, www.bowersandmerena.com.

“We are very pleased with the excellent results achieved by this sale,” stated Bowers and Merena president Steve Deeds. “It is an honor for us to be trusted with the sale of such important numismatic rarities in a dynamic market. My heartfelt thanks goes out to all of our consignors without whose support we could not maintain Bowers and Merena’s position as America’s preeminent numismatic auctioneer. And, of course, I cannot forget our loyal bidders—you also have my sincerest thanks for contributing to another successful Bowers and Merena Rarities Sale. May you cherish and enjoy your recent acquisitions for years to come.”

An impressive selection of Buffalo Nickel rarities led the way in prices realized for this sale. The exceedingly rare 1916 Doubled Die Obverse in NGC MS-64 (lot 196) sold for $276,000; a condition rarity 1918-S certified MS-66 by NGC (lot 205) traded hands for $125,350; the probable finest-known 1926-S in NGC MS-66 * (lot 218) realized a record price of $322,000; and an equally important 1927-S that is also graded NGC MS-66 * (lot 219) crossed the auction block at $125,350.

The Marquette-Yakima Registry Set of Washington Quarters—the #1 set on the NGC Registry—also resulted in significant prices realized. The highlight of the set is definitely the 1932-D in PCGS MS-66 offered as lot 322. A pop 1/0 coin, this beautifully toned Gem brought $143,750—the highest price ever paid for an example of this key-date issue. Other top-of-the-pop rarities from this Registry Set include a 1943-S in PCGS MS-68 (lot 360) that traded for $23,000; a very pretty 1954-S in the same grade (lot 393) that brought $10,350; and a unique 1961-D graded MS-67 at PCGS (lot 403) whose realized price is $18,975.

Additional highlights from the Chicago Rarities Sale include:

* Lot 529, 1870 Seated Dollar NGC Proof-67 * Cameo, realized $60,375
* Lot 567, 1884-S Morgan Dollar NGC MS-64, realized $105,800
* Lot 602, 1895 Morgan Dollar NGC Proof-66 Cameo, realized $86,250
* Lot 711, 1851 Augustus Humbert $50 Gold, Reeded Edge, 880 THOUS, NGC MS-62, realized $149,500
* Lot 774, 1910 Indian Quarter Eagle NGC Proof-67, realized $57,500
* Lot 981, 1920-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle PCGS MS-62, realized $69,000 (more…)

The 1932-D Washington Quarter. MS-66 (PCGS).(Lot 322) has sold in the Bowers and Merena April 2008 Chicago Rarities Sale Session One yesterday for the amount of $143,750. That is a record for any Washington quarter.

Details on this and other highlights from the sale will be posted shortly.

Below is the auction Lot description from the B&M catalog:

“The 1932-D is unique as a Denver Mint Quarter struck during the four-year period from 1930 to 1933. It is also the premier D-mint delivery in the Washington Quarter series, which confirms its historical significance in the 20th century U.S. coinage family. That the 1932-D is also a low-mintage issue with just 436,800 pieces produced has been well known in numismatic circles for decades. On the other hand, that particular fact seems to have been lost on the contemporary public.

One would think that the 1932-D would now be readily obtainable in Mint State due to its first-year status. After all, the contemporary public usually saves large numbers of first-year coins as novelty items, such activity explaining the relative availability of even many low-mintage issues. (An excellent example is the 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent, Mint State examples of which really do abound in numismatic circles despite a delivery of just 484,000 pieces.) This did not happen in the case of the 1932-D Quarter, however, and anyone interested in setting aside an example of the new type was content to focus on the 1932 or, to a much lesser extent, the 1932-S. This explains why the 1932-D is the prime condition rarity in the entire business strike Washington Quarter series of 1932-date. (more…)