Bowers and Merena Realize $8.5+ Million in Baltimore Coin and Currency Sales

U.S. Coin and Currency Sales Exceed $7 Million, Including Record-setting Sale of 1901-S Barber Quarter

IRVINE, Calif. — Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, continues its long-standing and successful partnership with the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

As Official Auctioneer of the March 2010 expo, Bowers and Merena realized more than $8.5 million in U.S. and foreign, coin and currency sales.

Prices realized for U.S. coins exceeded $5.5 million while U.S. currency accounted for a further $1.3 million of the total, for a combined U.S. prices realized of more than $7 million.

"We conducted a highly successful auction in Baltimore with strong bidder participation in all sessions," concluded Bowers and Merena president Steve Deeds.

"A trio of fresh, original rarities led the way by bringing particularly strong prices. Offered as lot 737, the finest PCGS-certified 1901-S Barber Quarter in MS-68 went to the winning bidder at a record-setting $327,750.

Part of the same consignment, a very rare proof striking of the 1879-O Morgan Dollar (lot 3104, PCGS Proof-64, OGH–First Generation) sold for $184,000 and a beautiful, premium-quality 1915-S Pan-Pac $50 Round in PCGS MS-66 traded for $281,750. The Pan-Pac $50 is a pop 1/0 coin and was featured as lot 3473 in our catalog."

Continued Deeds: "The Cuyahoga Collection of Charlotte and Dahlonega Mint Gold also performed very well in our March Baltimore Auction. Important rarities from this high-ranked NGC Registry Set include lot 3739, an 1839-C Liberty Half Eagle in NGC MS-63 that realized $126,500 and lot 3609, an 1849-C Liberty Quarter Eagle certified MS-65 by NGC that changed hands at $103,500."

"Bowers and Merena’s sale of U.S. currency at the March 2010 Baltimore Expo was also impressive," noted director of currency auctions Matthew Quinn.

"Noteworthy prices were realized by lot 1379, a Fr. 282* 1923 $5 Silver Certificate Star Note graded Superb Gem Uncirculated 67 EPQ by PMG that went for $41,688 and lot 1982, a spectacular ‘$15’ double-denomination error on a Fr. 1960-D 1934D $5 Federal Reserve Note certified Very Choice New 64 PPQ by PCGS that traded hands for $21,850."

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

• Lot 442, 1867 Shield Nickel, Rays, Proof-65 (PCGS), OGH, realized $54,050
• Lot 605, 1798/7 Draped Bust Dime, 16 Stars, MS-65 (NGC), realized $29,046
• Lot 1372, Fr. 282, 1923 $5 Silver Certificate, Superb Gem Uncirculated 67 EPQ (PMG), realized $28,750
• Lot 1373, Fr. 282, 1923 $5 Silver Certificate, Superb Gem Uncirculated 67 EPQ (PMG), realized $20,700
• Lot 1395, Fr. 359, 1890 $5 Treasury Note, Gem New 65 (PCGS), realized $12,765
• Lot 1442, Fr. 953b, 1914 Red Seal $20 Federal Reserve Note, Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ (PMG), realized $13,800
• Lot 1494, Fr. 1216b, 1882 $500 Gold Certificate, Very Fine 20 (PMG), realized $15,238
• Lot 1622, Fr. 2306*, 1935A $1 Silver Certificate, North Africa, Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ (PMG), realized $6,900
• Lot 1815, Fr. 1608, 1935A $1 Silver Certificate, Serial #F00000001C, Superb Gem New 67 PPQ (PCGS), realized $8,625
• Lot 1947, Fr.1187, 1922 $20 Gold Certificate, Butterfly Error, Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ (PMG), realized $10,925
• Lot 1991, San Francisco, California, $5 1870, Fr. 1136, The First National Gold Bank, Charter #1741, Very Fine 25 (PMG), realized $14,950
• Lot 2150, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, $100 1882 BB, Fr. 520, The Union NB, Charter #563, Extremely Fine 40 (PMG), realized $9,488
• Lot 2172, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, $5 1882 BB, Fr. 467, The Independence National Bank, Charter #3085, Choice Fine 15 (PMG), realized $6,900
• Lot 3452, 1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Gold Dollar, Jefferson Portrait, Proof-66 Cameo (PCGS), realized $28,175
• Lot 3518, Kellogg 7 Humbert Assayers, Gold Ingot bar No. 794, 56.91 Ounces, 880 Fine, realized $132,250
• Lot 3588, 1839-C Classic Quarter Eagle, MS-60 (NGC), realized $34,500, from the Cuyahoga Collection
• Lot 3590, 1841-D Liberty Quarter Eagle, MS-63 (NGC), realized $48,875, from the Cuyahoga Collection
• Lot 3591, 1842-D Liberty Quarter Eagle, MS-61 (NGC), realized $32,775, from the Cuyahoga Collection
• Lot 3600, 1845-D Liberty Quarter Eagle, MS-64 (PCGS), realized $63,250, from the Cuyahoga Collection
• Lot 3623, 1854-D Liberty Quarter Eagle, MS-63 (PCGS), realized $63,250, from the Cuyahoga Collection
• Lot 3932, 1860 Liberty Double Eagle, MS-64 (NGC), realized $41,400

For a complete list of prices realized for the March 2010 Baltimore Auction, visit the Bowers and Merena website at www.bowersandmerena.com or call the firm toll free of 800.458.4646. Bowers and Merena’s next auction is the Official Auction of the June Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

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 their 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 and Ponterio & Associates, or to consign to an upcoming auction, call 800-458-4646. For media inquiries, ask for president Steve Deeds (U.S. coins) or director of currency auctions Matthew Quinn (U.S. currency). Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.

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