Bowers and Merena to Offer Exceptional U.S. Coin Rarities in Baltimore

IRVINE, Calif. — Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, will conduct the Official Auction of the March 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

Scheduled for March 2-6 at the Baltimore Convention Center, the sale will present over 3,300 lots of important United States coins and currency. Ponterio & Associates, division of Bowers and Merena, will present more than 2,400 lots of world and ancient coins and currency.

"We have an impressive selection of rare U.S. coins and notes set for auction at the upcoming March 2010 Baltimore Expo," stated Bowers and Merena president Steve Deeds. "Anchoring the sale is a trio of extremely important coins, all of which have been off the market for decades."

Continued Deeds: "The first of these three coins is a spectacular example of the key-date 1901-S Barber Quarter that grades MS-68 at PCGS.

It is the only MS-68 certified at PCGS and NGC — none are finer — and the coin is completely original with full luster and pretty peripheral toning. We expect this piece to see spirited bidder competition at auction."

"Also part of the same consignment with the 1901-S Barber Quarter,” confirmed Deeds, "is an extremely rare branch mint proof 1879-O Morgan Silver Dollar certified Proof-64 in a first-generation PCGS holder, as well as a phenomenal 1915-S Panama-Pacific $50 Round in PCGS MS-66.

The Pan-Pac $50 Round is particularly noteworthy as the single-finest example certified at PCGS (Pop: 1/0), while the 1879-O Morgan Dollar is also among the finest known for this extremely rare branch mint proof issue.

Both of these coins are completely original and highly attractive.”

"We are also proud to present two named collections in our upcoming March 2010 Baltimore Auction," said Deeds. "The Cuyahoga Collection of Charlotte and Dahlonega Mint Gold features many high-Condition Census rarities from these important and widely collected Southern gold series. The collection is ranked No. 2 on the NGC Set Registry in the category of Charlotte Mint Gold Complete and No. 1 in the category of Dahlonega Mint Gold Complete.

Many of the coins in the Cuyahoga Collection are pedigreed to some of the other famous Southern gold collections assembled in recent decades, including the Elrod, Dingler and Ashland City collections. Stand-out rarities in the Cuyahoga Collection are an 1842-C Small Date Half Eagle in NGC/CAC MS-63, an 1849-C Quarter Eagle in NGC MS-65 and an 1854-D Quarter Eagle graded MS-63 by PCGS."

Concluded Deeds: "The Julianna Rose Collection of Fugio Coppers is also set to cross the auction block in our March 2010 Baltimore Auction. Comprised primarily of nine coins, this collection is ranked No. 3 on the All-Time Finest and No. 2 on the Current Finest PCGS Set Registry in the category of Fugio Cents with major Varieties.

A tenth example is included that grades NGC MS-62 Brown, and the set is also listed on the NGC Registry where it is ranked No. 1 in the Fugio Cent category. The NGC Registry has honored the Julianna Rose Collection as the best set in its category every year from 2005-2009.

A highlight of this collection is the Eliasberg specimen of the 1787 New Haven Restrike struck in silver. The coin is certified MS-62 by PCGS and is one of perhaps just 50 examples struck in this precious metal."

Additional highlights in the Bowers and Merena March 2010 Baltimore Auction include:

• 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent, MS-66 Red (PCGS)
• 1914-S Buffalo Nickel, MS-67 (NGC)
• 1841-D Liberty Quarter Eagle, MS-63 (NGC)
• 1845-D Liberty Quarter Eagle, MS-64 (NGC), CAC
• 1859-D Liberty Quarter Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS)
• 1911-D Indian Quarter Eagle, MS-63 (NGC)
• 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, Small Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS)
• 1839-C Liberty Half Eagle, MS-63 (NGC)
• 1842-C Liberty Half Eagle, Large Date, MS-64 (NGC)
• 1846-D/D Liberty Half Eagle, MS-64 (PCGS)
• 1848-C Liberty Half Eagle, MS-64 (NGC)
• 1856-D Liberty Half Eagle, MS-64 (PCGS)
• 1859-C Liberty Half Eagle, MS-63 (PCGS)
• 1797 Capped Bust Right Eagle, Large Eagle, AU-50 (PCGS)
• MCMVII (1907) Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, High Relief, MS-64 (NGC)
• 1936 Delaware Tercentenary Commemorative Half Dollar, MS-68 (NGC)
• 1903 Louisiana Purchase Gold Dollar/Jefferson Portrait, Proof-66 Cameo (PCGS)

All lot descriptions and images in the March 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 is open 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 March 2010, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA, 92614.

Interested bidders are also encouraged to view lots onsite in Baltimore March 2-6, 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.

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 were 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 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expos 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 Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo in March, 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.