Top Coin and Currency Honors Go to 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel in PCGS MS-64 at $155,250,  and 1928 $500 PMG Gem 65EPQ Uncirculated Gold Certificate at $97,750

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin auction house, hosted their Baltimore Rarities Sale on July 26, 2008, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, just prior to the ANA World’s Fair of Money. The auction presented approximately 1,100 coin and 200 currency lots and realized a total of $4,427,243.

Earning top dollar was Lot 384, a 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel, FS-016.5, graded MS-64 by PCGS that realized $155,250. A major condition rarity, this near-Gem is easily among the finest-known survivors of the variety, with a PCGS Population of 31 and a mere three finer in MS-65. Lot 1093, a 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, Small Eagle, BD-8, HBCC-3041, Miller-10, Rarity-5+, graded MS-63 PL by NGC, realized $146,625. Described as “a really a nice coin” and a rarer die pairing of this historically significant and extremely popular federal gold issue, it is one of only four in the NGC Census, and a mere two finer with a PL designation as part of the grade. Also notable was Lot 1014, a 1796 Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle, BD-2, HBCC-3002, Rarity-4, No Stars in NGC AU-53 that realized $109,250.

Currency was also in the spotlight, with Lot 164, Fr. 2407, 1928 $500 Gold Certificate, PMG Gem Uncirculated 65EPQ realizing a very impressive $97,750. Truly Uncirculated $500 1928 Gold Certificates are rare, with only three of this number certified at the “65″ level, and only a single example has ever earned a certification any higher from PMG, making this specimen an extremely scarce item in a superior grade attested to by PMG.

“Our Baltimore Rarities Sale came right on the heels of our Official Baltimore auction in June, which brings our total for the past two months to almost $10.7 million,” said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. “Both auctions were very active and both conventions have been busy and productive, as well, and I’m happy to see such prosperity and enthusiasm within the industry.”

Additional coin highlights include:

164 Fr. 2407 1928 $500 Gold Certificate. PMG Gem Uncirculated 65EPQ. $97,750

356 1867 Shield Nickel. Rays. Proof-64 (PCGS). OGH (Old Green Holder). $52,900

357 1867 Shield Nickel. Rays. Proof-64 (PCGS). $46,000

438 1805 Draped Bust Dime. JR-2. Rarity-2. 4 Berries. MS-65 (NGC). $36,800

683 1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-64 (NGC). $45,425

717 1841 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar. MS-64 (NGC). CAC. $39,100

815 1892-S Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-63 (PCGS). $75,900

1086 1885 Three-Dollar Gold Piece. Proof-66 Cameo (PCGS). CAC. $57,500

1094 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. Small Eagle. BD-8, HBCC-3041, Miller-10. Rarity-5+. $62,100

AU-55 (PCGS). OGH (Old Green Holder).

1095 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. Small Eagle. BD-3, HBCC-3033, Miller-2. Rarity-3+. $59,800

AU-55 (PCGS).

1105 1825/’1′ Capped Head Left Half Eagle. BD-1, HBCC-3147, Miller-149. Rarity-5+. AU-58 (NGC). $42,550

1275 1915 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. Proof-66 (NGC). $87,400

1279 1920-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. MS-62 (PCGS). $69,000

1299 1927-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. MS-62 (PCGS). CAC. $40,825

1302 1931-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. MS-64 (PCGS). $92,000

Additional currency highlights include:

50 Lot of (2) Fr. 93 1862 $10 Legal Tender Notes. Consecutive Pair. PCGS About New $13,800

50PPQ & Choice About New 55PPQ.

60 Fr. 224. 1896 $1 Silver Certificate. PCGS Superb Gem New 67PPQ. $9,545

71 Fr. 248. 1896 $2 Silver Certificate. PCGS Gem New 66PPQ. $14,375

93 Fr. 364. 1891 $5 Treasury Note. PCGS Superb Gem New 67PPQ. $12,650

94 Fr. 370. 1891 $10 Treasury Note. PMG Superb Gem Uncirculated 67EPQ. $14,375

102 Fr. 753. 1918 $2 Federal Reserve Bank Note. PMG Superb Gem Uncirculated 67EPQ. $13,800

161 Fr. 2309*. 1934A $10 Silver Certificate Star Note. North Africa. PCGS Gem New 66PPQ. $6,038

170 Live Oak, FL. $10 1882 Value Back. Fr. 577. The FNB. Charter #(S)6055. Very Good. $8,913

185 Boston, MA. $2 Original Series. Fr. 387. The National Eagle Bank. Charter #993. PMG Very Fine 25. $8,050

Prices realized for all lots in the Bowers and Merena Baltimore Rarities Sale are available online at www.bowersandmerena.com. Bowers and Merena’s next two auctions will be held in September prior to the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectible Expo. The Beverly Hills Rarities Sale will be Saturday, September 13, at The Tower Beverly Hills, with lot viewing September 11-13. The Collector’s Choice Auction will be conducted on the Bowers and Merena website September 8-17, with lot viewing by appointment at their Irvine headquarters. Catalogs will be available by late August, and interested bidders are invited to visit www.bowersandmerena.com for complete auction and lot viewing schedules, or call 800.458.4646 to speak to a representative.