Bowers and Merena, one of the world’s preeminent auctioneers for rare coins and currency, saw spirited bidding as the Official Auctioneer of the November 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.
Nearly 3,900 lots of rare US coins and currency crossed the auction block in the Nov. 4-6 sale and realized $11.6 million. Ponterio & Associates, Bowers and Merena’s world and ancient coin division, brought over 2,900 lots and added an additional $1.6 million to the sale.
"With the selection of U.S. and foreign collections presented, this year’s November Baltimore Auction ranks as one of our most important auctions yet," said Greg Roberts, CEO of Bowers and Merena Auctions.
"Even our optimistic appraisals were far surpassed, especially those in the fabulous Malibu Collection, which was comprised of the #2 collection of Standing Liberty Quarters with full-head designation on the PCGS Set Registry and an awe-inspiring array of Seated Liberty coinage."
The Malibu Collection of Standing Liberty Quarters, featured lot 1750, the key-date 1916 in PCGS/CAC MS-67 FH that sold for $115,000, lot 1760, the finest-known 1919-D in PCGS MS-66+ FH, that brought $109,250 and lot 1776, the pop 1/2 example of low mintage 1927-S in PCGS/CAC MS-65+ FH sold for an impressive $149,500.
The 1882 Half Dollar, one of only three Motto Seated Half Dollars certified MS-68 by PCGS and verified by CAC, lot 2074, traded hands at $74,750. Finally, the amazing Stack-Pryor-Malibu Specimen of 1855 Arrows Seated Half Dollar in PCGS/CAC MS-66, lot 2018, realized $54,625.
Leading the way among gold coin highlights, the Kupersmith Once-in-a-Lifetime Collection of 1875-dated gold coinage featured many of the rarest and most significant pieces of the sale. The proof-only 1875 Three-Dollar gold piece, certified Proof-66 Ultra Cameo by NGC with a pop 1/0 sold for $253,000. The business strike 1875 Liberty Half Eagle offered as lot 5043, an even rarer issue, went for an impressive $149,500. Certified AU-55 by NGC, the coin represents the finest grade available among the 10 coins believed to exist from a 200-piece issue.
Another anchor in the Baltimore Auction was the Zürich Collection which almost exclusively contains rare, high-grade proof Liberty Double Eagles. A beautiful gem, the 1892 Double Eagle in NGC Proof-66 Ultra Cameo from the collection netted $103,500 as lot 5392.
"Foreign coins and currency also performed extremely well in Baltimore, with many lots selling far in excess of our pre-sale estimates" said Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena Auctions. "Lot 7529, a 1791-CNB-RA Russian 1/2 Ruble in NGC MS-61 shattered the pre-sale estimate of $700 when it sold for $21,240 and lot 8777, an Iraq Dinars L. 1913 (1936), P-12s in VF also did exceptionally well with a realized price of $32,450 and a pre-sale estimate of $8,000."
Other highlights in Bowers and Merena and Ponterio & Associates November 2010 Baltimore Auction include:
- Lot 84, 1662 Massachusetts Bay Colony Oak Tree Twopence, Small 2, MS-65 (PCGS), realized $103,500
- Lot 85, 1652 Massachusetts Bay Colony Oak Tree Sixpence, IN on Reverse, MS-62 (PCGS), realized $46,000
- Lot 1785, 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter, MS-67+ FH (PCGS), CAC, realized $195,500
- Lot 1908, 1796 Draped Bust Half Dollar, 15 Stars, MS-63 (NGC), realized $299,000. Ex-Norweb Collection
- Lot 2200, 1797 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Stars 9×7, Large Letters, MS-63 (NGC), realized $92,000
- Lot 3173, (12) Fr. 747, 751, 753, 759, 760, 762, 765, 768, 772, 775, 777 & 778 1918 $2 Federal Reserve Bank Notes, Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ to Gem Uncirculated 66EPQ (PMG), realized $57,500
- Lot 3460, National Bank Note, Ogden, Utah, $10 1902 PB, Fr. 624, The Utah NB, Charter #2880, Choice Very Fine, realized $23,000
- Lot 4703, 1851 Augustus Humbert $50 Gold, Lettered Edge, 50 D C, 887 THOUS, 50 on Reverse, MS-62 (PCGS), Secure Holder, realized $316,250
- Lot 4777, 1802 Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle, MS-65 (NGC), realized $161,000
- Lot 4781, 1808 Capped Bust Left Quarter Eagle, MS-63 (NGC), realized $316,250
- Lot 5037, 1879 Four-Dollar Gold Stella, Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Proof-65 Cameo (PCGS), CAC, realized $186,875
- Lot 5042, 1875 Liberty Half Eagle, Proof-66 Cameo (NGC), realized $143,750, From the Kupersmith Once- in-a-Lifetime Collection
- Lot 5404, 1897 Liberty Double Eagle, Proof-66 Ultra Cameo (NGC), realized $94,300, From the Zürich Collection
- Lot 5426, 1902 Liberty Double Eagle, Proof-66 Cameo (NGC), realized $83,375, From the Zürich Collection
- Lot 5603, 1932 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, MS-66 (NGC), realized $92,000
- Lot 6308, Mexico, Guadalajara, 8 Reales, 1863-FV, Almost Uncirculated, realized $16,520
- Lot 7557, Russia, Alexander III Memorial Ruble, 1912-EB, AU-58 (NGC), realized $11,505
- Lot 8114, Bermuda, 10 Shillings, 30.9.1927, P-4, Choice Very Fine, realized $5,900
- Lot 8611, Iran, 2 Tomans, 1913, P-2, About Uncirculated, realized $21,240
Part II of the Malibu Collection will be feature prominently in Bowers and Merena’s upcoming January 2011 Tampa Bay Rarities Sale. The auction is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2011, immediately preceding the FUN Show in Florida.
For a complete list of prices realized for Bowers and Merena and Ponterio & Associates November 2010 Baltimore Auction, visit the firm’s web site at www.bowersandmerena.com or call toll-free at 800-458-4646.
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.
The company 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 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 Director of Operations, Brian Kendrella. Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.
