The 34th Chicago International Coin Fair gets underway this week at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare in Rosemont Ill. April 23-26, 2009.

Ponterio & Associates, Inc., a division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, will offer almost 3000 lots featuring an exceptional selection of world coins and currency hailing from Russia, China, Mexico, Cuba, Australia, Latin America and more.

The auction is highlighted by two standout banknote collections. The J.S. Morgan Collection of Early Russian Banknotes covers approximately 100 years and features early 19th to early 20th century banknotes. Of special interest is lot 1056, Russia/Imperial, 25 Rubles, 1843, P-A38, Specimen. State Credit Note, Original Documentation Included, About Uncirculated, Extremely Fine. This 25 Rubles note is an unlisted item in the SCWPM and finding another example at a public offering will likely be far too long for any collector to wait. This piece shows with a distinctive appeal exhibiting the vertical format, which highlights the long specimen overprint.

Already a spotlight collection for Bowers and Merena Auctions, The East Bay Collection of International Banknotes is sure to draw the interest of banknote enthusiasts worldwide. The East Bay Collection is believed to be the largest collection of international banknotes ever to come to market. Assembled over the course of 40 years by a private collector in Northern California, it originally consisted of more than 30,000 notes representative of over 150 countries. The collection debuted in Bowers and Merena’s October 2008 New York auction with Chinese and related Asian banknotes and Russian and European banknotes. A special highlight in this CICF auction is lot 39, Australia, 5 Pounds, 1913, P-5a, Commonwealth of Australia, Fine. The note is signed Collins and Allen and is an early issue that is hard to obtain in any grade.

Find complete details including a schedule of events and list of Bourse table holders at cicfshow.com.

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