Bowers and Merena, one of the world’s preeminent auctioneers for rare coins and currency, began 2011 with the first major numismatic event of the year, the January Tampa Bay Rarities Sale.
The single-day, single-session event held Jan. 4 offered nearly 1,700 lots of rare United States and Colonia-era coinage. With coins performing exceptionally well, sales topped $4 million.
"It is an honor for us to conduct the first major numismatic auction of 2011," said Chris Napolitano, president of Bowers and Merena. "The high-quality offerings and the strong prices realized achieved by the auction bodes well for the market as a whole.
We look forward to an exciting year of important numismatic auctions, one made even more promising by our recently announced joint venture with Stack’s."
Headlining the Tampa Bay sale was part II of the famed Malibu Collection of seated liberty coinage. With strong bidder competition, two lots in particular brought impressive results. Lot 855, the 1866 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar with Motto in PCGS Secure Proof-66 Deep Cameo and a pop of just 3/0, sold for $34,500, and lot 733, an 1873 Seated Liberty Half Dollar with Arrows graded Proof-65 Cameo by PCGS Secure and a pop 4/3, traded hands for $18,400.
"The highest realized price of the auction went to lot 1544, a rare 1907 Wire Rim Indian Eagle, which sold for $230,000," said Napolitano.
"Certified MS-67 by PCGS Secure and a pop of 4/0, the piece is a classic rarity in U.S. coinage history and widely regarded as one of the most technically and artistically advanced coins ever produced.
It ranks alongside the equally famous Ultra High Relief Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle as one of America’s most beautiful coins."
Other noteworthy pieces include the finest-known 1891 Liberty Quarter Eagle, lot 1353, in PCGS/CAC MS-67 which realized $37,075 and a top-of-the-pop 1946-S Washington Quarter in lot 658, certified MS-68 by PCGS Secure and verified CAC that brought in $14,950.
Additional highlights from Bowers and Merena’s January Tampa Bay Rarities Sale include:
- Lot 59: Undated (Circa 1616) Sommer Islands Twopence, BMA Type I, Small Star Below Hog, AG-3 (PCGS), realized $18,400
- Lot 722: 1865 Seated Liberty Half Dollar, Proof-67 Cameo (NGC), From The Malibu Collection, realized $17,825
- Lot 1021: 1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar, MS-62 (PCGS), realized $24,150
- Lot 1261: 1856 Pattern Flying Eagle Cent, Rarity-7+, Proof-63 (PCGS), From the G. Edward Reahl, Jr. M.D. Collection, realized $19,550
- Lot 1351: 1879 Liberty Quarter Eagle, Proof-67 Cameo (NGC), realized $40,250
- Lot 1393: 1914 Indian Quarter Eagle, MS-65 (NGC), realized $31,166
- Lot 1394: 1914-D Indian Quarter, MS-65 (PCGS), realized $35,075
- Lot 1489: 1911 Indian Half Eagle. Proof-66 (NGC), realized $33,925
- Lot 1613: MCMVII (1907) Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, High Relief, Wire Rim, MS-64 (PCGS), realized $28,750
In December 2010, Bowers and Merena announced it will join forces with Stack’s, the oldest rare coin retail and auction company in the United States, creating an industry leader which will be called Stack’s-Bowers Numismatics. The company will combine business operations in early 2011 and host the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo on March 31-April 3 as its first event.
To consign important United States and world coins and currency to this historic auction, contact Stack’s-Bowers consignment directors at 800-458-4646 (West Coast) or 800-566-2580 (East Coast). Consignments will be accepted until Feb. 7.
For a complete list of prices realized, 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.
I like Bowers and Merena Auctions website – because I can view a high resolution pictures of auction items – coins and banknotes