Bowers and Merena, one of the world’s preeminent auctioneers for rare coins and currency, will conduct the official auction of the November 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.
Scheduled for November 4-5 at the Baltimore Convention Center, the sale will present more than 3,500 lots of important United States coins and currency.
"We are thrilled to continue our long-standing and successful partnership with the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo," said Greg Roberts, CEO of Bowers and Merena. "This year’s official auction of the November Expo ranks as one of Bowers and Merena’s most important Baltimore auctions of all time. With more than 3,500 lots, our catalog for U.S. coins and currency offers something for everyone, from collectors and dealers on a strict budget to advanced numismatists seeking the finest-known examples of some of the rarest and most famous coins ever struck in the United States Mint."
Three consignments in particular stand out as defining the importance of the upcoming Baltimore auction. The Kupersmith Once-in-a-Lifetime Collection is a truly amazing offering, the likes of which is rarely seen in even the most prestigious sales, that has at its core six of the rarest gold coins struck in the Philadelphia in 1875. Nearly impossible to assemble such a collection in any grade, the consignor remained committed to quality and selected only the highest-graded examples that he could find, many of which are actually top-of-the-pop.
"Needless to say, it is difficult for us to single out one coin in this collection for each piece qualifies as a highlight, although special recognition must go to the 1875 Three-Dollar Gold Piece in NGC Proof-66 Ultra Cameo," said Roberts.
A pop 1/0 coin at both PCGS and NGC, this coin also ranks as the finest of perhaps just 10 original strikings of the proof-only 1875 Three-Dollar. Not to be overlooked and in addition to the 1875-dated gold set, the Kupersmith Collection will also be presenting a selection of rare proof and business strike Three-Dollar gold pieces, the proofs of which comprise the highest-ranked set on the NGC Registry.
The Malibu Collectionoffers the #2 collection of Standing Liberty Quarters with full-head designation on the PCGS Set Registry.
"Nearly all of the Standing Liberty Quarters in the Malibu Collection are either top-of-the-pop or tied for finest certified, and plus-designated coins are figured prominently throughout the set. Of particular note are the low-mintage 1916 in PCGS MS-67 FH (Pop: 2/1), the conditionally challenging 1919-D in PCGS MS-66+ FH (Pop: 1/0) and the key-date 1927-S in PCGS MS-65+ FH (Pop: 1/2)," said Roberts.
Other selections from the Malibu Collection include impressive runs of Seated Liberty Half Dollars and Silver Dollars that feature many key-date and/or conditionally rare pieces.
The third anchor consignment in the November 2010 Baltimore Auction is the impressive Zürich Collection.
"Assembled by a collector with a keen sense of rarity and a sharp eye for quality, The Zürich Collectionbrings to this sale a dazzling array of proof Liberty gold coinage from the late 19th and early 20th centuries," said Roberts.
Among the many highlights in this collection is an 1878 Liberty Double Eagle in NGC Proof-64 Cameo–a rare and underrated issue with just nine confirmed survivors from a mintage of 20 pieces.
Additional highlights in the Bowers and Merena November 2010 Baltimore Auction include:
- 1794 Liberty Cap Cent, Head of 1794, S-30, MS-66 BN (PCGS), CAC
- 1969-S Lincoln Cent, FS-101 (FS-028), Doubled Die Obverse, MS-64 RD (PCGS)
- 1937-D Buffalo Nickel, FS-901 (FS-020.2), 3-Legged, MS-67 (NGC)
- 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dime, V-2, MS-65 (PCGS), Secure Holder
- 1942/1-D Mercury Dime, FS-101 (FS-010.8), MS-66+ FB (PCGS)
- 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter, MS-67+ Full Head (PCGS), CAC
- 1796 Draped Bust Half Dollar, O-101, 15 Stars, MS-63 (NGC)
- 1797 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, B-1, Stars 9×7, Large Letters, MS-63 (NGC)
- 1803 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, B-6, Large 3, MS-63 (PCGS), Secure Holder
- 1808 Capped Bust Left Quarter Eagle, BD-1, MS-63 (NGC)
- 1879 Four-Dollar Gold Stella, Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Proof-65 Cameo (PCGS), CAC
- 1809/8 Capped Bust Left Half Eagle, BD-1, MS-65 (NGC)
- 1875 Liberty Half Eagle, Proof-66 Cameo (NGC), From the Kupersmith Once-in-a-Lifetime Collection
- 1796 Capped Bust Right Eagle, BD-1, MS-62 (NGC)
- 1907 Indian Eagle, Judd-1901/1774, Wire Rim, MS-65 (PCGS)
- 1892 Liberty Double Eagle, Proof-66 Ultra Cameo (NGC), From the Zürich Collection
- 1897 Liberty Double Eagle, Proof-66 Ultra Cameo (NGC), From the Zürich Collection
- MCMVII (1907) Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, High Relief, Wire Rim, MS-65 (PCGS), CAC
- 1920-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, MS-65 (PCGS)
- 1921 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, MS-63 (NGC)
- 1929 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, MS-65 (PCGS)
- 1932 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, MS-66 (NGC)
- 1851 Augustus Humbert $50 Gold, Lettered Edge, K-4, 50 D C, 887 THOUS, 50 on Reverse, MS-62 (PCGS), Secure Holder
Ponterio and Associates, Bowers and Merena’s world and ancient coin pision, will also hold its official auction Nov. 5-6 at the Baltimore Convention Center. All lot descriptions and images in the November 2010 Baltimore Auction can be viewed online at the Bowers and Merena’s website, www.bowersandmerena.com, and printed catalogs are available by calling (800) 458-4646. Bidding is open and pre-auction bids are welcome at www.bowersandmerena.com; via e-mail at auction@bowersandmerena.com; phone (800) 458-4646 or fax (949) 253-4091; or by postal mail addressed to Bowers and Merena, Baltimore November 2010, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA, 92614.
About Bowers and Merena Auctions
Bowers and Merena Auctions was founded in 1983 and has grown to become one of the world’s preeminent numismatic auctioneers with more than half a billion dollars in rare coin and currency sales. It continues its service as Official Auctioneer of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expos three times each 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 pision 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 Director of Operations, Brian Kendrella. Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.
