California-based Bowers and Merena is one of the prominent US auctioneers for rare coins, currency and exonumia, with its affiliate Ponterio & Associates conducting auctions of ancient and foreign coins and paper money. Bowers and Merena also offers direct sales for rare coins and currency and publishes a number of important numismatic books.

Bowers and Merena is an affiliate of  The Spectrum Group International–a consolidated global collectibles network and the third largest in the world behind Christies and Sotheby’s.

Ten major brands comprise Spectrum Group International, including:
A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc., Bowers and Merena Auctions, LLC, Corinphila Auktionen: Headquartered in Zurich, Greg Martin Auctions: The world’s premier auction house for arms, armor and militaria., H.R. Harmer, Inc.: one of the world’s leading auctioneers of rare and collectible stamps, John Bull Stamp Auctions, Ltd., Spectrum Wine Auctions, Spectrum Numismatics International, Inc.: a leading buyer and seller of rare coins, currency and fine wines, Teletrade: conducts Internet and telephone auctions for rare coins, currency and exonumia.

Greg Roberts, CEO of Bowers and Merena, stated:  “We wish Steve well in his new endeavors and we are pleased that he has agreed to continue to obtain consignments on behalf of Bowers and Merena.  His new role will allow us to continue to take advantage of Steve’s demonstrated skills in promoting the numerous benefits of consigning with Bowers and Merena.”

Mr. Roberts continued, “I will remain as CEO of Bowers and Merena, working closely with our talented group of executives and consignment directors, including Rick Ponterio, Scott Reiter, Brett Renaud, Debbie McDonald, Ron Gillio, Matt Quinn, Kent Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio.  With our distinguished team and Mr. Deeds’ support, we will continue our tradition of putting together outstanding rare coin and currency auctions.”

In other news The American Precious Metals Exchange (www.APMEX.com) announced  that Michael Haynes, former CEO and Board Member of Collectors Universe has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of APMEX.

APMEX is one of the largest precious metals retailers in the US, with annual sales over $600 Million.

APMEX Chairman of the Board and Founder Scott Thomas said ” Haynes brings both public company and private company experience in high growth companies. We look forward to sharing and benefiting from his vast experience.”

“It is a great privilege to join the team at APMEX, where Scott Thomas has directed the growth of the company, combining the excellent service with a simple, yet user-friendly Internet-based trading platform,” explained Haynes. “In today’s marketplace, gold and other precious metals are key elements in the diversification of assets that assist in stabilizing the individual portfolio and the hedging of portfolio asset values against what is rapidly becoming a more volatile currency dependent financial world. Our objective is to bring gold and precious metals ownership through the Internet to every person who seeks protection for their portfolio while providing easy and direct access to gold and other precious metals products with superior service and support.”

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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

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. Bidding will open during the fourth week of May and pre-auction bids are welcome 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 June 15-19, 2010, 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.

Related posts:

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The PCGS Secure Plus process uses laser scanning to help detect coins that have been artificially enhanced since their last certification, combat “gradeflation” and excessive resubmissions of the same coins, and can also be used to help identify recovered stolen coins. Additionally, PCGS graders can now designate deserving, superior-quality coins as “Plus” within their respective grades, an important distinction when there are big differences in value between one grade point and the next.

The following industry professionals are included in this video as follows:

• Don Willis – President of PCGS
• David Hall – Founder of PCGS
• Steve Deeds – President of Bowers and Merena Inc.
• Jim Halperin – Co-Chairman of Heritage Auction Galleries
• Ira Goldberg – Goldberg Rare Coins
• John Feigenbaum – President, David Lawrence Rare Coins
• Mark Salzberg – Chairman, NGC
• Charmy Harker – The Penny Lady
• Tim Carrol – Numismatic Financial Corp
• Jeff Garrett – President, Mid American Rare Coin Gallery
• Mike Bianco – Mike Bianco Rare Coins

Video used with permission and courtesy of CoinTelevision.com and CoinVideo.com.

Related posts:

1. PCGS Announces PCGS Secure Plus™, The Most Important Innovation in the Coin Industry Since the Advent of Third Party Grading.
2. Some Thoughts on PCGS’ New Secure Plus Coin Grading Program
3. PCGS Announces Coin Sniffer™ Process Enhancement to Secure Plus Coin Grading

Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s premier rare coin and currency auction house, continues to bring success to its consignors as the Official Auctioneer of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. The 6,000+ lot auction conducted November 12-14, 2009 realized more than $8 million, with U.S. coin and currency sales totaling $5.8 million, and Ponterio & Associates netting $2.1 million in world coin and banknote sales.

“We were thoroughly impressed with the bidder participation in our November 2009 Baltimore Auction,” stated Steve Deeds, President of Bowers and Merena. “Bidding was spirited for both classic rarities and exceptionally high-grade coins, particularly fresh and original pieces that had been off the market for a considerable amount of time. The Dr. Alfred R. Globus Collection led the way for many U.S. coin series and types, and it achieved the record price for the auction when the 1830 Capped Head Left Half Eagle in PCGS MS-65 traded hands for $241,500. This important early Half Eagle, offered as lot 3685, realized nearly 40% more than the Coin Dealer Newsletter bid of ‘$173K’ for the 1830 Half Eagle in MS-65 as reported in the September 11, 2009 edition of CDN Quarterly III.”

Continued Deeds: “Another classic rarity from the early U.S. Half Eagle series that performed very well in the November Baltimore Auction is the 1821 Capped Head Left Five that brought $112,125 as lot 3684. That coin is certified AU-53 by PCGS, and it is one of only 15-20 examples known for the issue.”

Deeds also called attention to many condition rarity United States coins that attracted keen bidder interest in Baltimore. “We sold the finest-certified 1853-O No Arrows Seated Quarter in NGC MS-68 (lot 687) for $47,150, a lovely 1895-O Morgan Dollar certified PCGS MS-64 (lot 3241) went for $71,875 and a stunning 1857-S Liberty Double Eagle in an NGC MS-67 holder (lot 3849) went to the winning bidder at $74,750.”

Additional U.S. coin highlights from Bowers and Merena’s November 2009 Baltimore Auction include:

* Lot 145, 1806 Draped Bust Cent, MS-62 Brown (NGC), realized $9,200
* Lot 522, 1937-D Buffalo Nickel, 3-Legged, MS-67 (NGC), realized $97,750
* Lot 574, 1829 Capped Bust Dime, JR-2, MS-66 (NGC), realized $9,200
* Lot 596, 1876-CC Seated Liberty Dime, MS-67 (PCGS), realized $11,788
* Lot 633, 1919-S Mercury Dime, MS-66 Full Bands (PCGS), realized $52,900
* Lot 737, 1892-O Barber Quarter, MS-68 (NGC), realized $22,425
* Lot 743, 1896-O Barber Quarter, MS-67 (NGC), realized $43,125
* Lot 869, 1807 Capped Bust Half Dollar, O-113, AU-58 (PCGS), realized $10,350
* Lot 917, 1837 Capped Bust Half Dollar, Reeded Edge, MS-66 (PCGS), realized $21,850
* Lot 1006, 1919-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar, MS-64 (PCGS), CAC, realized $11,500
* Lot 1036, 1953-S Franklin Half Dollar, MS-65 Full Bell Lines (NGC), realized $11,788
* Lot 3053, 1848 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar, MS-63 (PCGS), realized $11,500
* Lot 3086, 1870-S Seated Liberty Silver Dollar, Genuine (PCGS), realized $126,500
* Lot 3261, 1901 Morgan Silver Dollar, MS-65 (NGC), realized $155,250
* Lot 3591, 1824/1 Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle, AU-58 (PCGS), realized $33,350
* Lot 3592, 1826/’5′ Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle, AU-55 (PCGS), realized $34,500
* Lot 3667, 1799 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, BD-6, MS-62 (PCGS), realized $43,700
* Lot 3670, 1806 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, BD-6, MS-63 (PCGS), realized $34,500
* Lot 3674, 1810 Capped Bust Left Half Eagle, BD-1, MS-63 (PCGS), realized $27,600
* Lot 3713, 1869-S Liberty Half Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS), CAC, realized $24,150
* Lot 3776, 1804 Capped Bust Right Eagle, BD-1, MS-63 (NGC), realized $96,600
* Lot 3815, 1907 Indian Eagle, Wire Rim, AU-55 (PCGS), realized $21,275
* Lot 3822, 1910-S Indian Eagle, MS-64 (PCGS), realized $17,250
* Lot 3824, 1911-S Indian Eagle, MS-65 (PCGS), CAC, realized $20,700
* Lot 3837, 1850 Liberty Double Eagle, MS-61 (PCGS), realized $20,125
* Lot 3854, 1859-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS), realized $19,550
* Lot 3856, 1860-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS), realized $14,375
* Lot 3857, 1861-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-62 (NGC), realized $20,700
* Lot 3858, 1862-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-62 (NGC), realized $25,300
* Lot 3859, 1863-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-63 (NGC), realized $28,750
* Lot 3860, 1864-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-63 * (NGC), realized $28,750

For a complete list of prices realized for the November 2009 Baltimore Auction, visit the Bowers and Merena website at www.bowersandmerena.com or call the firm toll free of 800-458-4646.

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