Ponterio & Associates to Auction World and Ancient Coins in Baltimore

IRVINE, Calif. — Ponterio & Associates, Inc., the world and ancients auction division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, will conduct its Baltimore Auction of World and Ancient Coins and Currency as part of Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the March 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

Slated for March 2-6, 2010, at the Baltimore Convention Center, the Ponterio & Associates auction will feature more than 2,400 lots of important world and ancient coins and banknotes.

"We have an excellent auction prepared for the March Baltimore Expo," stated Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena Auctions. "One of the most important highlights in this sale is an extremely rare 1876-A Greek 50 Drachmai from a mintage of only 182 coins. Attributed as Fr-15 and KM-50, and certified AU-58 by NGC, we anticipate this coin to see spirited bidder competition when it crosses the auction block in Baltimore."

Continued Ponterio: "Also of note for bidders is our offering of a rare Danish 2 Speciedaler that dates to the reign of Frederick III (1648-1670). That coin is certified NGC AU-55 and is attributed as Sieg-81, H-81, Dav-3564 and KM-311.

And for collectors of Mexican coinage we are equally pleased to be offering a rare one-year type in the 1823-JM 8 Escudos. An example of the "Hookneck" variety, this piece is certified AU-50 by NGC and attributed as Fr-63, KM-382.1 and HO-type-1." 

Additional highlights of the Ponterio & Associates March 2010 Baltimore Auction include:

• Bolivia, 8 Reales "Royal Presentation Strike," 1652-E, KM-R-A20.4, Laz-120, McLean-type-IV A, VF
• Great Britain, 1/3 Guinea, 1776, KM-Pn55, W&R-127, NGC Proof-63
• Mexico, 8 Escudos, 1733-F, Fr-8, KM-148, NGC EF-45
• Sweden, 2 Ducats, 1837-CB, Fr-86, Sieg-35, KM-629, NGC MS-61
• Switzerland, Basel, 2 Taler, 1741, Dav-1749, KM-150, NGC AU-55
• Switzerland, Solothurn, 2 Duplone, 1797, Fr-390, KM-61, NGC MS-65
• Switzerland, 100 Francs, 1925-B, Fr-502, KM-39, PCGS MS-64

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 Ponterio & Associates, Inc.

Ponterio & Associates, Inc., was founded in 1982 by Richard Ponterio, renowned specialist in world and ancient numismatics. The company was acquired by Bowers and Merena Auctions in 2008, creating an auction powerhouse that covers the collecting interests of U.S. and international coin and currency enthusiasts.

Ponterio & Associates auctions have included such notable coin collections as the John S. Davenport Collection, the Witte Museum Collection, the Amat Collection, the Joe Lasser Collection, and the James Hunnicut Collection. Distinguished paper money collections include the East Bay Collection of International Bank Notes, and the Eduard Kann Chinese Bank Note Collection. Ponterio & Associates has also presented treasure collections from the shipwrecks "Nicobar," "Rooswijk," and "Capitana."

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 continue to serve 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. Bowers and Merena Rare Coin Galleries offers direct buying and selling of exceptional quality gold and silver rare coins.

For more information about Ponterio & Associates’ March Baltimore Auction, call 800.458.4646. For media inquiries, ask for executive vice president Rick Ponterio. Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.