Bowers and Merena’s Official Philadelphia Coin Auction Features Nearly 1500 Lots

Auction Spotlights Remarkable 1652 Massachusetts Bay Colony Willow Tree Shilling

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, will bring nearly 1,500 lots of fine coins to Philadelphia, Pa.., for the Official Pre-show Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Philadelphia Expo set for September 21-22, 2009.

The auction will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and begins with lot viewing Monday, September 21, and Tuesday, September 22, followed by the two-session auction on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. EDT.  

"Bowers and Merena has had the privilege for many years to present the Official Baltimore Auction with Whitman, so we are very pleased for this opportunity to work with them in Philadelphia as the Official Pre-show Auctioneer," said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. "Whitman produces excellent coin shows. And Philadelphia is rich in history and tradition, really two of the cornerstones of numismatics." 

The auction will present an important selection of rare Colonial and Early Federal Era coinage. Of special note is lot 10, a remarkable 1652 Massachusetts Bay Colony Willow Tree Shilling, the Clark-Wurtzbach-Wiseman Specimen of this extremely rare type and the finest certified by PCGS at AU-58.

Limited press runs combined with a high rate of attrition explain the extreme rarity of Willow Tree Shillings in numismatic circles.

"This particular example is superior to most and represents an important find for the specialist," said Deeds. "For the type, it is hard to imagine a more visually appealing, technically sound, and desirable representative of this rare and historic issue from the earliest era of coinage operations in Colonial America, and Philadelphia is a very fitting venue to present it at auction." 

Another Colonial Era highlight is lot 44, a historic 1776 Continental Dollar, a beautiful, high-grade pewter striking of the EG FECIT variety in PCGS MS-64 with the CAC designation. PCGS Population is 10 and only four are finer in  MS-65.

The Continental Currency pieces (or Dollars) are among the most historically significant and important coins ever struck within the borders of what is now the United States of America. W-8460 as represented in this lot is easily attributable by the addition of the inscription EG FECIT on the band below the central-obverse device.

Lot 1714 is a glorious gem BU 1932 Double Eagle in MS-66 * graded by NGC. Rarer than the 1929 and 1931-D, the 1932 in mint state is the seventh scarcest date of the entire series, with a mere 75 to 95 pieces believed extant in all grades. 

Additional Philadelphia coin auction highlights include:

Lot 12 1652 Massachusetts Bay Colony Pine Tree Shilling. Large Planchet. W-740, Noe-8, Crosby 1b-D. URS-9. Monogrammed NE in Legend. MS-64 (PCGS).

Lot 15 Undated (Circa 1659) Lord Baltimore Shilling. W-1080, Hodder -1A, Breen-64. URS-6. Large Portrait, MARIAE. MS-61 (PCGS).

Lot 18 Undated (1737) Higley or Granby Copper. Standing Deer, VALUE ME AS YOU PLEASE III. W-8280, Friedus 3.3-C, Crosby-25. URS-3. J CUT MY WAY THROUGH, Broad Axe. Fine-15 (PCGS).

Lot 23 1787 Immune Columbia Copper Pattern. W-5680, Breen-1137. URS-8. IMMUNIS COLUMBIA, Large Eagle Reverse, Plain Edge, Narrow Planchet. MS-64 BN (PCGS).

Lot 40 1818 New Spain (Texas) Jola. W-8542, Breen-1082. URS-6. Large Planchet. AU-58 (PCGS).

Lot 41 1820 North West Company Token. W-9250, Breen-1083. URS-9. Brass. VF-25 (PCGS).

Lot 135 1922 No D Lincoln Cent. FS-401 (FS-013.2), Die Pair II. Strong Reverse. MS-64 BN (NGC).

Lot 195 1867 Shield Nickel. Rays. Proof-65 (PCGS). OGH.

Lot 253 1792 Pattern Half Disme. Judd-7, Pollock-7. Rarity-4. EF-40 (PCGS).

Lot 344 1796 Draped Bust Quarter. B-1. Rarity-4. EF-45 (PCGS).

Lot 611 Fr. 304. 1908 $10 Silver Certificate. PCGS Superb Gem New 67PPQ.

Lot 676 Fr. 2221-B. 1934 $5,000 Federal Reserve Note. Serial B00000003A. PCGS APPARENT Extremely Fine 45. Minor Restoration in UL Corner.

Lot 1475 1852 Augustus Humbert. $50 Gold. K-11. Rarity-5. Reeded Edge. 887 THOUS. AU-58 (NGC).

Lot 1538 1911-D Indian Quarter Eagle. MS-65 (NGC).

Lot 1709 1926-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. MS-65 (PCGS). 

All lots and images in the Bowers and Merena Official Pre-show Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Philadelphia Expo can be viewed online at www.bowersandmerena.com, and printed catalogs are available upon request by calling 800.458.4646. Bidding is open first week of September 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, Philadelphia 2009, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA, 92614.

Interested bidders are also encouraged to view lots in Philadelphia September 21-22, 2009, and bid in-person at the live auction September 22, 2009, 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. 

About Bowers and Merena Auctions

Bowers and Merena Auctions was founded in 1983 and has grown to become the world’s preeminent numismatic auctioneer with more than half a billion dollars in rare coin and currency sales. They have been awarded the prestigious honor of Official Auctioneer for the 2009 American Numismatic Association Conventions in Portland and Los Angeles, in addition to their continued service as Official Auctioneer of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Conventions three times every year.

Bowers and Merena has handled four of the five most valuable United States coin collections ever sold, including the Louis E. Eliasberg Sr. Collection, the Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection, the Garrett Collection for The Johns Hopkins University, and the Norweb Collection. In 2008, Bowers and Merena Auctions acquired Ponterio & Associates, Inc., which now serves as Bowers and Merena’s auction division for world and ancient coins and currency. Bowers and Merena Rare Coin Galleries offers direct buying and selling of exceptional quality gold and silver rare coins.

For more information about Bowers and Merena’s Official Pre-show Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Philadelphia Expo in September, call 800.458.4646.  For media inquiries, ask for President Steve Deeds. Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.

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