Select Countries Beautifully Represented
IRVINE, Calif. – Ponterio & Associates, Inc., the world and ancients auction division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, will commence its 2010 auction schedule as an Official Auctioneer of the New York International Numismatic Convention (N.Y.I.N.C.). The auction will be conducted January 8-9, 2010, in New York’s prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Pre-sale lot viewing will take place in the same location beginning January 6, with additional lot viewing opportunities available at the Bowers and Merena world headquarters in Irvine, California, December 21-31, 2009 (by appointment only; closed December 24-27).
2009 was quite a year for Ponterio & Associates, having amassed large sections of world banknotes during each of their major auctions, and they look to continue that trend into 2010. The first offering of the year at the N.Y.I.N.C. will feature more 800 lots of scarce to rare notes from the world over. “Many countries are highly represented with material that will surely excite collectors. In particular, the Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese, sections are quite impressive,” said Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena and founder of Ponterio & Associates. Along with the oriental offerings are some very exciting sections that include India, Iran, the Philippines, and British Commonwealth.
Some individual highlights are two Banque Belge Pour L'Etranger Chinese $5 & $10 notes, Pick S142s and the higher denomination being unlisted in the current Standard Catalog of World Paper Money. A bright pair of Pick 16As Korean 100 Yen specimens from the Bank of Chosen will highlight the Korean banknotes, as well as another challenging Korean 100 Yen note ( Pick 41s) with the tough block number “2” displayed. An early dated Egyptian 1921 100 Pound specimen ( P-17s) will be offered in Uncirculated condition.
In addition, a fascinating Peruvian American Bank Note Company archival book of proofs is amongst the individual notes and comprises nearly every banknote that the printing company produced for the country.
Some highlights from the comprehensive selection of India include a Two Rupees-Eight Annas Pick 2 in Uncirculated condition, along with an original booklet of 25 Pick 14b One Rupee notes. Another worthy piece of mention is a Pick R5 Haj Pilgrim 10 Rupees note in an attractive Fine grade. A pleasing group of higher denomination notes from India are also present which will surely peak interest as many are scarce to rare.
“With the high quality material being offered and the diverse nature of the countries presented, we fully anticipate this sale of international banknotes will receive the same rigorous bidding by knowledgeable collectors and dealers as we have seen during 2009,” Ponterio concluded.
All lot descriptions and images in the January 2010 N.Y.I.N.C. Auction can be viewed online at the Bowers and Merena website, www.bowersandmerena.com beginning December 9. 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 Ponterio & Associates, N.Y.I.N.C. January 2010, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA, 92614. Interested bidders are also encouraged to view lots onsite in New York January 6-9, 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.
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.”
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’ January 2010 N.Y.I.N.C. 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.