Ponterio & Associates, a division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, is pleased to present the January 2011 N.Y.I.N.C. Auction at the Waldorf Astoria in New York on Jan. 7-8. The auction will feature 2,558 lots including Part I of the Len Novotny Collection of Mexican Coinage, the Michael Demling Collection of Ancient Coinage, David Ian Wright Collection of Italian Banknotes and a superb selection of Fussli specimens.

“After wrapping up our December Hong Kong auction with the Wa She Wong Collection, we are excited to offer another extremely diverse selection of ancient and world coins and paper money,” said Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena. “Sure to be the center of attention, the 1854 Guatemala 8 Reales, lot 1036 and graded AU-55 by NGC, is perhaps the rarest crown-sized type coin for all of Latin America.”

Shortly after the production of this coin, the Republic of Guatemala adopted the decimal system and began producing coinage in Pesos and Centavo-equivalent denominations. This marks the coin as the first, last and only 8 Reales produced by the Republic of Guatemala.

Another anchor of the sale is lot 827, an extremely rare and important 1897 Anhwei Pattern Dollar, graded MS-62 by PCGS. “This particular specimen is clearly intended for special presentation purposes as it exhibits a bold, full-bodied strike with all special characters and sharp details,” said Ponterio.

Furthering the significance of the piece, the short-lived Anhwei mint only produced silver coinage for approximately two years before operations ceased and the mint was dismantled.

Additional coin and paper money highlights of the auction include:

· Lot 116, 1784/3 Mexico 8 Escudos, Key Charles III Proper Portrait, Choice Extremely Fine

· Lot 131, 1823 Mexico 8 Escudos, Hookneck Eagle, AU-55 (NGC)

· Lot 258, 1835 Belgium 40 Francs, MS-64 (NGC)

· Lot 357, 1850 Costa Rica ½ Onza, SP-61 (NGC), (Ex: Fredrick Mayer Collection)

· Lot 464, 1883 Honduras 10 Pesos, , AU-50 (NGC)

· Lot 549, 1926 Italy 50 Lire, MS-64 (NGC)

· Lot 550, 1926-R Italy 20 Lire, MS-65 (PCGS)

· Lot 2031, 264 B.C. Siculo-Punic Silver Dekadrachm, Time of First Punic War, Sicilian Mint, Choice Very Fine

· Lot 2536, 1892 Bank of Greece 100 Drachmai, P-45

· Lot 2611, 1913 Imperial Bank of Persia 2 Tomans, P-2, About Uncirculated, Consecutive pair

· Lot 2613, 1890-1923 Imperial Bank of Persia 1,000 Tomans Specimen, P-10s, Choice Uncirculated

The first day of the two-day auction will feature Part I of the Len Novontny Collection of Mexican Coinage and an array of world gold coins, world crowns and minors. The second day will host the Michael Demling Collection of Ancient Coinage, David Ian Wright Collection of Italian Banknotes, and ancient and world paper money including Fussli specimens. Lot viewing will be conducted before the sale at the Waldorf Astoria in the Morgan Suite, floor 18, Jan. 5-8.

All lot descriptions and images can be viewed online at the firm’s web site by visiting www.bowersandmerean.com. Bidding is open and pre-auction bids can be placed through the firm’s web site, by email at auction@bowersandmerena.com, via fax at 949-253-4091, by calling a representative at 800-458-4646 or by postal mail addressed to Bowers and Merena, January 2011 N.Y.I.N.C., 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA 92614.

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Over 300 anxious bidders filled the live auction floor for the highly anticipated sale of the Wa She Wong Collection and other Asian Coins on Dec. 3-4. The Hong Kong auction, presented by Ponterio & Associates, a division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, featured 1,107 lots with total sales reaching $10.7 million.

“A collection of Chinese coinage of this magnitude has not come to market in over 20 years and it surely did not disappoint,” said Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena. “We saw such spirited bidding, the sale of the first 487 lots took an astounding 11 hours with many of the lots selling for multiple times their estimated value.”

Drawing worldwide attention, the collection is a compilation of Wa She Wong’s lifelong passion for collecting which contained multiple rarities missing from major exhibits including many scarce pattern coins that were never released into general circulation. Headlining the collection, the 1890 Kwantung Mint Specimen Set, lot 220, began with an estimated value of $300,000 and realized a staggering $718,750. The set represents a landmark in Chinese minting as the first silver coinage produced with modern machinery.

Another important coin was the extremely rare “Flying Dragon” Szechuan 30 Cash Struck in Copper, lot 311. Opening at $12,500, lively bidding quickly brought the coin to a final selling price of $460,000. “The buyer had been searching for this rarity, one of only two known in private hands, for more than 30 years. The two other examples known to exist are housed in public museum collections,” said Ponterio.

All major rarities in the collection were certified by the Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC), a market leader in grading Chinese coins, and pedigreed as “Wa She Wong Collection” on individual holders. Additional highlights of the Wa She Wong Collection include:

• Lot 3, 1920 “Yuan Shi Kai” Dollar Struck in Gold, MS-64 (NGC), realized $138,000

• Lot 27, 1911 “Long-Whisker” Dragon Pattern Dollar Struck in Silver, MS-65 (NGC), realized $431,250 (Ex: Kann Collection)

• Lot 130, 1844 Changchow Military Rotation Dollar, AU-50 (NGC), realized $103,500

• Lot 139, 1909 Honan Pattern 20 Cash Struck in Copper, AU-55 BN (NGC), realized $126,500

• Lot 147, 1930 Hunan Pattern 500 Cash Struck in Copper, MS-63 BN (NGC), realized $103,500

• Lot 162, 1897 Kiangnan Dollar, Plain Edge, Proof-66 Cameo (NGC), realized $373,750

• Lot 172, 1899 Kiangnan 50 cents, AU Details (NGC), realized $172,500 (Ex: Kann Collection)

• Lot 219, 1888 Kwantung Mint Specimen Set, Seven Three Reverse Pattern, K-16/20 (NGC), realized $546,250

• Lot 234, 1898 Shensi Mint Specimen Set, K-156/159 (50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢), realized $258,750

• Lot 340, 1935 Shensi Soviet Dollar, Large Hammer & Sickle, XF Details (NGC), realized $92,000

• Lot 475, 1921 British Trade Dollar, AU-55 (NGC), realized $43,700

In day two of the sale, Asian coins and paper money also performed very well. A standout coin in these sessions was lot 1123, a 1929 Austrian Pattern “Sun Yat Sen” Dollar, MS-61 (NGC), which realized $207,000. This rarity was discovered as part of the Richard Platch Estate, an engraver at the Vienna Mint that was responsible for several important Chinese patterns. Additional highlights from day two of the sale include:

• Lot 1039, 1897 Kiangnan Dollar, Ornamental Edge, MS-62 (NGC), realized $103,500

• Lot 1195, 1912 Shandong Gaobianbao 50 Tael, High-Sided Sycee Ingot, Choice Very Fine, realized $86,250

• Lot 2138, Banque De L’Indo-Chine 5 Piastres Specimen, Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ (PMG), realized $57,500

Additional material from the Wa She Wong Collection will be offered at Ponterio & Associates’ next Hong Kong sale in August 2011 and the company is currently accepting consignments of Chinese and other Asian coins and paper money.

The Wa She Wong sale wraps-up an outstanding week of auctions in Hong Kong for Spectrum Group International. Spectrum Wine Auctions’ sale on Dec. 5 realized $4.4 million – the highest since the company formed a year ago, and John Bull Stamp Auctions hosted its largest sale ever Nov. 25-28 with $3.5 million in total sales.

Bowers and Merena’s next auction is the January 2011 Tampa Bay Rarities Sale which is scheduled for Jan. 4, immediately preceding the FUN Show in Florida. The sale will feature Part II of the impressive Malibu Collection. Ponterio & Associates’ next auction is the January N.Y.I.N.C. Auction scheduled for Jan. 7-8 in New York.

For a complete list of auction highlights and prices realized, visit the firm’s web site at www.bowerandmerena.com or call 800-458-4646.

For more information about Bowers and Merena and Ponterio & Associates, or to consign to an upcoming auction, call 800-458-4646. For media inquiries, ask for Director of Operations, Brian Kendrella. Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.

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“The Wa She Wong Collection contains rarities that are an honor to view, let alone bid upon,” said Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena. “We are extremely proud to have been entrusted with its sale as it is one of the most memorable collections I have had the pleasure of preparing for auction. Bidders from around the world have begun to make reservations to attend the highly anticipated Hong Kong Auction in December for a chance to bid on the lots firsthand.”

The Wa She Wong collection is a masterfully gathered assortment of rare coins of China, including many rarities which are coveted by the most important collectors of Chinese numismatics as well as many scarce pattern coins, which are coins of proposed designs and strikes of that were never released into the general circulation. An extremely unique coin in the collection is the Szechuan 30 Cash Struck in Copper, 1904, HSU-289, CCC-Unlisted. Considered one of the 100 greatest Chinese coins, there was believed to have been only three known in existence until the fourth was unearthed in the Wa She Wong Collection after being hidden away for 30 years.

“It is not frequent that a rarity, like the ‘Flying Dragon’ Szechuan 30 Cash Struck in Copper, is unearthed such as the case with the Wa She Wong Collection,” Sun Hao, Chinese coinage expert and author. “This specific example features a profile or ‘Flying Dragon’, while the others depict a frontal view or ‘Facing Dragon’. The opportunity to bid on this coin is a chance of a lifetime.”

The fine Wa She Wong collection features coinage that has rarely appeared on public markets and others that are missing from most major collections. Some other highlights of the auction include:

· Kwangtung Specimen set, 1890 (5 coins). K-21/25. ($1, 50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢)
· Shensi Specimen Set, 1898 (4 coins). K-53,54,56,&57 (50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢)
· Kiangnan. Pattern dollar, 1897. Plain edge Proof. K-66.
· Kwangtung Specimen set, 1890 (5 coins). K-16/20. ($1, 50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢)
· Pattern dollar, 1911. L&M-29. (Ex: Kann Collection)

The auction is further bolstered by Asian coins and bank notes from other consignors and is highlighted by an 1868 Hong Kong Five Piece Silver Proof Set.

The 1868 Hong Kong Five Piece Silver Proof Set contains rarities from the Hong Kong mint which was only in production for about two years. Such a rarity, the proof set first became known to the numismatic community in 2007 when it appeared in a public auction. Prior to this, the set remained in the same family for over 100 years.

The 1868 Hong Kong Five Piece Silver Proof Set includes:

· Dollar 1868 KM-10
· Half Dollar 1868 KM-8
· 20 Cents 1968 KM-7
· 10 Cents 1868 KM-6.3
· 5 Cents 1868 KM-5

“The 10 Cents and 5 Cents were unpublished and reportedly unknown as proofs until the discovery of this set,” said Ponterio. “The fact that this set remains intact and unknown for well over a century baffles the mind. It is truly a remarkable rarity that is sure to be the centerpiece of any collection.”

The first day of the two-day December auction will feature the Wa She Wong Collection. The second day will host a collection of Hong Kong and Chinese coins and bank notes from other consignors. Featured highlights will be on view at the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention Nov. 2-6 and prior to the December auction at the Sharaton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers Dec. 1-4.

The deluxe auction catalog is prepared in English and Chinese for your convenience, and available for $20 in the United State and $35 outside of the United States. Orders can be made by contacting a representative at +1-800-458-4646 or via email at info@bowersmerena.com.

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[CoinLink News] – Ponterio & Associates, a division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, realized $1,608,082 as the Official Auctioneer of the June 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. The three-session sale, occurring June 17-19, featured ancient and foreign coins and paper money. Bowers and Merena added an additional $6,438,778 in sales with its five-session auction.

“Ponterio & Associates’ Official June 2010 Baltimore Auction resulted in strong bidder competition and equally strong prices realized for ancient and foreign coins and foreign paper currency,” said Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Ponterio & Associates. “Iranian bank notes proved particularly popular in this auction, as did Chinese coinage and world gold coins in general.”

The most notable sale was lot 8278, an extremely rare Kublai Khan, the fifth Great Khan and grandson of Genghis Khan, 50 Tael Sycee Ingot. Issued in Year 14 (A.D. 1273) of China’s Yuan Dynasty, the piece realized $64,900. Leading the way among foreign bank note offerings, lot 7409, an Iranian First Series Toman, 1.6.1920, P-1b, Choice Uncirculated, sold for $17,700.

Additional ancient and foreign coin and paper currency highlights in the Ponterio & Associates June 2010 Baltimore Auction include:

* Lot 6037, Greece, 10 Lepta, 1831, cf.KM-12, cf.Geo-13, Chase-411-F.e, missing first “H” in “KYBEPNHTHE,” Very Fine, realized $8,850
* Lot 6089, Mexico, Charles II (1665-1700), Escudo, 1879 (J), Fr-5, KM-50, Very Fine, realized $8,850 (the first dated gold coin of Mexico)
* Lot 6551, Great Britain, William III (1694-1702), 5 Guineas, 1701, Fr-310, S-3456, KM-508, NGC XF-45, realized $10,325
* Lot 6601, India, Travancore, Sovereign, ME1057/1881, Fr-1403, KM-32, NGC MS-63, realized $9,853
* Lot 6750, Transylvania, 10 Ducats, 1605, Fr-305, KM-18, Resch-2a, NGC VF-30, realized $16,520
* Lot 7410, Iran, 1 Toman, 12.2.1924, P-1b, Extremely Fine, realized $9,440
* Lot 7420, Iran, 5 Tomans, 30.3.1925, P-13, Choice Very Fine, realized $9,440
* Lot 7422, Iran, 10 Tomans, 11.10.1927, P-14, Very Fine, realized $11,800
* Lot 8086, Ptolemaic Egypt, Ptolemy II (285-246 B.C.), AV Octadrachm, Alexandria Mint, after 265 B.C., Choice Very Fine, realized $10,030
* Lot 8286, China, Kiangnan, Dollar, 1898, L&M-215, Y-145a.18, “WU HSU” reversed, PCGS XF-45, realized $9,440
* Lot 8719, Venezuela, 5 Bolivares, 1888, Y-24.1, NGC MS-62, realized $20,650.

For a complete list of prices realized for the June 2010 Baltimore Auction, visit the Bowers and Merena website at www.bowersandmerena.com or call the firm toll-free at 800.458.8646.

About Ponterio & Associates

Ponterio & Associates, Inc., was founded in 1982 by Richard Ponterio, renowned specialist in world and ancient numismatics. The company was acquired by Bowers and Merena Auctions in 2008, creating an auction powerhouse that covers the collecting interests of U.S. and international coin and paper money enthusiasts. Ponterio & Associates auctions have included such notable coin collections as the John S. Davenport Collection, the Witte Museum Collection, the Amat Collection, the Joe Lasser Collection, and the James Hunnicut Collection. Distinguished paper money collections include the East Bay Collection of International Bank Notes, and the Eduard Kann Chinese Bank Note Collection. Ponterio & Associates has also presented treasure collections from the shipwrecks “Nicobar,” “Rooswijk,” and “Capitana.”

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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.”

Additional highlights in Ponterio & Associates’ Official June 2010 Baltimore Auction include:

* Ancient Greece, Sicily, Messana, AR Tetradrachm (17.39 gms), ca. 450-426 B.C., Caccamo-Caltabiano-425, D183/R175 (same dies), NGC XF, Strike: 3/5, Surface: 4/5, Die Flaws.
* Ancient Greece, Seleukid Kingdom, Seleukos I, Nikator 312-280 B.C., AR Tetradrachm (17.04 gms), Susa Mint, EMS-420#99 (A59/P7), Newell-417 (Persepolis), Very Fine.
* Roman Empire, Tiberius, A.D. 14-37, AV Aureus (7.88 gms), Lugdunum Mint, RIC-25, S-1760, Cal-305, NGC Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5.
* Roman Empire, Nero, A.D. 54-68, AV Aureus (7.33 gms), Rome Mint, RIC-52, S-1930, Cal-412, NGC AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 2/5.
* Australia, ½ Penny, 1923, KM-22, Extremely Fine.
* Australia, Florin, 1934, KM-33, NGC Proof-62.
* Austria, Taler, 1590, Hall Mint, Rudolf II (1576-1612), with Archdukes Maximilian, Charles V and Ferdinand, Dav-8105, Bachtell-128A, NGC EF-45.
* China, Yuan Dynasty: Zhi Yuan, 50 Tael Sycee Ingot, Dated Year 14 (1273 A.D.), BMC-unlisted, Chen-14, Pictoral Yuanbao-unlisted, Very Fine, described in the catalog as “EXTREMELY RARE and historically significant.”
* Guatemala, 8 Reales, 1787-M, KM-36.2a, FC-33, El-41, Brilliant Uncirculated.
* Guatemala, 16 Pesos, 1867-R, Fr-39, KM-188, Almost Uncirculated, described in the catalog as, :VERY RARE, mintage of only 467 pieces.”
* Malta, 50,000 Liras, 2005, Fr-unlisted, KM-unlisted, Hospitallier Order, #46 of only 100 minted, Choice Brilliant Proof.
* Mexico, Escudo, 1679 (J), Charles II (1665-1700), Fr-5, KM-50, Very Fine.
* Mexico, 8 Escudos, 1805-TH, Fr-43, KM-159, NGC MS-62.
* Mexico, 20 Pesos, 1871 ZsH, Fr-127, KM-414.8, Very Fine.
* Mexico, War of Independence, Oaxaca, 8 Reales, 1812-C, KM-168, Bold Very Fine.
* Monaco, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Francs, 1950, Fr-24, 26, 28 & 30, KM-PE6a, 7a, 8a & 9a, Piefort Essais struck in gold, Brilliant Uncirculated.

Additional world paper money highlights in Ponterio & Associates’ Official June 2010 Baltimore Auction include:

* IRAN. 20 Tomans, 6.12.1924. P-15, Very Fine.
* IRAN. 5 Tomans, 30.3.1925. P-13, Choice Very Fine.
* IRAN. 10 Tomans, 11.10.1927. P-14, Very Fine.
* PALESTINE. 10 Pounds, 30.9.1929. P-9b, Fine-Very Fine.
* DANZIG. 20 Gulden, 2.1.1932. P-60s. Gem Uncirculated.
* CHINA–PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC. 50,000 Yuan, 1950. P-856s, Choice Uncirculated.
* PHILIPPINES. 200 Pesos, 1.1.1912. P-12, Very Fine.
* QATAR & DUBAI. 1, 5 & 10 Riyals, ND (1960). P-1 to 3, Very Fine & Choice Uncirculated.

All lot descriptions and images in the June 2010 Baltimore Auction can be viewed online at the Bowers and Merena website, www.bowersandmerena.com. Printed catalogs are available upon request by calling 800.458.4646. Online bidding will commence in mid-May and pre-auction bids will be accepted at www.bowersandmerena.com; by e-mail at auction@bowersandmerena.com; by phone at 800.458.4646; by fax at 949.253.4091; and by postal mail addressed to Bowers and Merena, Baltimore June 2010, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA, 92614. Interested bidders are also encouraged to view lots onsite in Baltimore in June and bid in-person at the live auction, or live online through the Bowers and Merena website. A complete auction and lot viewing schedule is available at www.bowersandmerena.com or by calling 800.458.4646.

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