Bowers and Merena Auctions will again present the Official Auction of the June 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. More than 200 impressive currency lots will join a magnificent array of nearly 3,500 coin lots in the auction that will be held June 16-20, 2010.

Ponterio & Associates, a division of Bowers and Merena, will present the world and ancients auction of coins and paper money, more than 2,300 lots, including over 1,500 lots of Ancient and foreign coins and 828 lots of world paper money.

Prior to the auction, lot viewing opportunities for U.S. currency lots will include a special viewing at the Memphis International Paper Money Show on Thursday, June 17, from noon to 5 p.m. CT, when the notes will then travel to Baltimore for the live auction and viewing at the Expo.

Matt Quinn, director of currency auctions, is enthusiastic about the impressive highlights that will cross the auction block. “We have two magnificent sheets of currency to offer, with the first being a tremendous uncut sheet of Rhode Island Colonials. The Catalog numbers range from RI-282 to 289, with two of each denomination seen, seldom seen in such a large format. The other significant uncut grouping of notes is one of the finest sheets of Silver Certificates we have come across. The sheet is an Uncut Sheet of 12 Fr. 1654 1934D Five Dollar notes encapsulated in a Superb Gem 68PPQ holder by PCGS Currency. This stunning sheet of notes is flawless to the naked eye.”

Some important National Banknotes in the catalog start with a highly scarce large size 1902 Five Dollar Plain Back with the second bank name for charter 9745. This County National Bank of Santa Cruz note retains nice appeal and is likely missing from even comprehensive California collections. The second notable National comes from Muscogee, Indian Territory with the Charter number of 4385. “Territorial notes are ever popular pieces which always command a premium,” Quinn said, “as mostly all in the National Banknote section of the hobby aspire to own one.”

The type collectors will also be fortunate to participate in the sale with a few notable high grade large size pieces available. Quinn added, “One of the most pleasing examples we have seen in some time for Friedberg number 21 will be presented to the collecting community bearing the challenging series ‘A,’ in a robust PCGS Extremely Fine 45PPQ holder. Next a wonderful Fr. 116 1901 $10 Bison note will cross the block encapsulated in a PMG Superb Gem Uncirculated 66EPQ grade which really wrings out all the detail the design could offer. A tasteful selection of high grade Gold Certificates will be the staple in the end of the large size type selection with many outstanding Gem notes seen.” (more…)

Bowers and Merena will conduct the Official auction of the June 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. Scheduled for June 16-20, 2010 at the Baltimore Convention Center, the sale will present nearly 3,500 lots of United States coins, exonumia and related items.

According to Bowers and Merena president Steve Deeds: “We have a wonderful sale planned for the June 2010 Baltimore Expo anchored by several important collections and Registry Sets.

In the category of Registry Sets we are featuring the Close to Perfect Collection, #1 All-Time Finest Lincoln Memorial Cents Basic Set on the PCGS Registry and the Weston Collection, PCGS Registry Set #8 in the category Capped Bust Half Dollars Major Variety Set without Reeded Edges.

The Close to Perfect Collection includes many low-pop condition rarities, including some stellar-quality MS-69s and MS-70s from the 21st century, while the Weston Collection features many original collector coins in VF, EF and AU.”

“Among U.S. gold coin offerings,” continued Deeds, “bidders will find the Windermere Collection and its fantastic array of rare-date Liberty Double Eagles and Territorial gold. Leading the way are 1855-O $20 NGC AU-55, 1859-O $20 NGC AU-55, 1860-O $20 NGC AU-58, 1861-O $20 NGC AU-55, 1861-S Paquet $20 NGC AU-50 and an 1852 Augustus Humbert $50 Gold, Reeded Edge, 880 THOUS, PCGS AU-55.

The Fab Five Collection of Early Half Eagles will also entice gold enthusiasts with a selection of five early Half Eagles, a fresh consignment recently certified by our company for the first time and making its first appearance in a major numismatic auction. A historic 1795 Small Eagle Five in NGC MS-61 leads off the Fab Five Collection, and it is an example of the scarcer BD-8 die marriage.”

Concluded Deeds: “Numerous other important rarities can also be found scattered throughout our June 2010 Baltimore Auction. We have a beautiful and rare 1930-S Double Eagle in PCGS Secure MS-65+, a top-of-the-pop 1917 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent, FS-101, PCGS Secure MS-67 RD from The Holdings of Ron Groszmann, a well-known 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar rarity in a PCGS Genuine holder and countless other highlights from Colonial coinage through Territorials. Plus, a complete set of Proof Barber dimes, as well as nearly complete sets of Indian cents, Mercury dimes, Standing Liberty quarters, and a type set with key coinage, all collected in the 1950s and 1960s. No matter what your area of specialization, I am confident that the Bowers and Merena June 2010 Baltimore Auction holds many important bidding opportunities. Enjoy the sale, and good luck with your bids.”

Additional highlights in the Bowers and Merena June 2010 Baltimore Auction include:

• 1926-S Buffalo Nickel, NGC MS-65
• 1937-D Buffalo Nickel, 3-Legged, PCGS MS-65, CAC
• 1797 Draped Bust Half Dime, 16 Stars, NGC MS-64, CAC
• 1800 Draped Bust Half Dime, PCGS MS-64
• 1807 Draped Bust Dime, NGC MS-65, OH
• 1795 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar, Three Leaves, PCGS MS-62
• 1795 Capped Bust Right Eagle, 13 Leaves, NGC AU-55
• 1872 Liberty Eagle, PCGS Proof-64 DCAM, Ex: J.F. Bell Collection
• MCMVII (1907) High Relief Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, Wire Rim, NGC MS-66
• A Complete 1871 Standard Silver Pattern Proof Set, Half Dime through Dollar, Ex: Garrett
• 1872 Pattern Commercial Dollar, Judd-1217, PCGS Proof-64 RB
• 1849 Mormon $2.50 Gold, K-1, PCGS VF-35, CAC—Gold Label, OGH—First Generation
• 1849 Oregon Exchange Company $5 Gold, K-1, NGC AU Details—Tooled
• 1883 Hawaii Eighth Dollar, PCGS Secure Proof-63 Cameo (more…)

Ponterio & Associates, Inc., the world and ancients auction division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, will conduct its Baltimore Auction of World and Ancient Coins and Paper Money as part of Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the June 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

The two-session sale will be conducted June 18 and 19 at the Baltimore Convention Center. More than 2,300 lots will be offered, including approximately 1,500 lots of Ancient and foreign coins and 825 lots of world paper money.

Executive vice president, Rick Ponterio states, “Our June 2010 Baltimore Auction is sure to see strong bidder participation—and competition—among specialists in many areas of foreign coins and paper money. Featured among the coin offerings in this sale are important rarities from many periods of history, ranging from Ancient Greece to the modern era.”

Continued Ponterio: “An example of the diversity in this sale can be found in two of the more important highlights. The first is a very rare Zeugitana, Carthage AV Trihemistater, or 1 ½ Shekel, that dates to the early period of the First Punic War (ca. 264-260 BC). The coin is attributed alternatively as Jenkins & Lewis Group IX Pl.18#392 (same dies) and Muller-Pg.86#66, and has been certified by NGC as AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5.”

“We will also present a Yuan Dynasty Zhi Yuan 50 Tael Sycee Ingot that is extremely rare and historically significant,” Ponterio added. “It is dated the 14th year of the Zhìyuán era (1273 A.D.), inscribed with the denomination at upper left and the ruler’s name and date at lower center, Khubilai Khan, the fifth Great Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan (1260-94). It is among the earliest known Chinese 50 Tael Sycee ingot.”

MORE THAN 825 LOTS OF WORLD PAPER MONEY TO BE OFFERED

“We have received a wide array of important world paper money consignments for this sale,” stated Bowers and Merena’s director of currency auctions, Matthew Quinn. “A splendid selection of Iranian notes from the 1920s and 1930s figure prominently among the highlights in this auction, and they include a stunning Choice Uncirculated 1 Toman note dated 1.6.1920 and attributed as P-1b. Also of note is a China, Republic, 5 Yuan dated 4.10.1914 and attributed as P-34. The note grades Very Fine and is significant because examples of this type are usually seen only in remainder form without signatures and perforated ‘canceled,’ which is a fate this note escaped. We anticipate strong bidder competition for these and other important world paper money lots in this sale.” (more…)