Classic Rarities and Condition Rarities Perform Extremely Well
IRVINE, Calif. -- Bowers and Merena Auctions, America's premier rare coin and currency auction house, continues to bring success to its consignors as the Official Auctioneer of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. The 6,000+ lot auction conducted November 12-14, 2009 realized more than $8 million, with U.S. coin and currency sales totaling $5.8 million, and Ponterio & Associates netting $2.1 million in world coin and banknote sales.
"We were thoroughly impressed with the bidder participation in our November 2009 Baltimore Auction," stated Steve Deeds, President of Bowers and Merena. "Bidding was spirited for both classic rarities and exceptionally high-grade coins, particularly fresh and original pieces that had been off the market for a considerable amount of time. The Dr. Alfred R. Globus Collection led the way for many U.S. coin series and types, and it achieved the record price for the auction when the 1830 Capped Head Left Half Eagle in PCGS MS-65 traded hands for $241,500. This important early Half Eagle, offered as lot 3685, realized nearly 40% more than the Coin Dealer Newsletter bid of '$173K' for the 1830 Half Eagle in MS-65 as reported in the September 11, 2009 edition of CDN Quarterly III."
Continued Deeds: "Another classic rarity from the early U.S. Half Eagle series that performed very well in the November Baltimore Auction is the 1821 Capped Head Left Five that brought $112,125 as lot 3684. That coin is certified AU-53 by PCGS, and it is one of only 15-20 examples known for the issue."
Deeds also called attention to many condition rarity United States coins that attracted keen bidder interest in Baltimore. "We sold the finest-certified 1853-O No Arrows Seated Quarter in NGC MS-68 (lot 687) for $47,150, a lovely 1895-O Morgan Dollar certified PCGS MS-64 (lot 3241) went for $71,875 and a stunning 1857-S Liberty Double Eagle in an NGC MS-67 holder (lot 3849) went to the winning bidder at $74,750."
Additional U.S. coin highlights from Bowers and Merena's November 2009 Baltimore Auction include:
• Lot 145, 1806 Draped Bust Cent, MS-62 Brown (NGC), realized $9,200
• Lot 522, 1937-D Buffalo Nickel, 3-Legged, MS-67 (NGC), realized $97,750
• Lot 574, 1829 Capped Bust Dime, JR-2, MS-66 (NGC), realized $9,200
• Lot 596, 1876-CC Seated Liberty Dime, MS-67 (PCGS), realized $11,788
• Lot 633, 1919-S Mercury Dime, MS-66 Full Bands (PCGS), realized $52,900
• Lot 737, 1892-O Barber Quarter, MS-68 (NGC), realized $22,425
• Lot 743, 1896-O Barber Quarter, MS-67 (NGC), realized $43,125
• Lot 869, 1807 Capped Bust Half Dollar, O-113, AU-58 (PCGS), realized $10,350
• Lot 917, 1837 Capped Bust Half Dollar, Reeded Edge, MS-66 (PCGS), realized $21,850
• Lot 1006, 1919-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar, MS-64 (PCGS), CAC, realized $11,500
• Lot 1036, 1953-S Franklin Half Dollar, MS-65 Full Bell Lines (NGC), realized $11,788
• Lot 3053, 1848 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar, MS-63 (PCGS), realized $11,500
• Lot 3086, 1870-S Seated Liberty Silver Dollar, Genuine (PCGS), realized $126,500
• Lot 3261, 1901 Morgan Silver Dollar, MS-65 (NGC), realized $155,250
• Lot 3591, 1824/1 Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle, AU-58 (PCGS), realized $33,350
• Lot 3592, 1826/'5' Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle, AU-55 (PCGS), realized $34,500
• Lot 3667, 1799 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, BD-6, MS-62 (PCGS), realized $43,700
• Lot 3670, 1806 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, BD-6, MS-63 (PCGS), realized $34,500
• Lot 3674, 1810 Capped Bust Left Half Eagle, BD-1, MS-63 (PCGS), realized $27,600
• Lot 3713, 1869-S Liberty Half Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS), CAC, realized $24,150
• Lot 3776, 1804 Capped Bust Right Eagle, BD-1, MS-63 (NGC), realized $96,600
• Lot 3815, 1907 Indian Eagle, Wire Rim, AU-55 (PCGS), realized $21,275
• Lot 3822, 1910-S Indian Eagle, MS-64 (PCGS), realized $17,250
• Lot 3824, 1911-S Indian Eagle, MS-65 (PCGS), CAC, realized $20,700
• Lot 3837, 1850 Liberty Double Eagle, MS-61 (PCGS), realized $20,125
• Lot 3854, 1859-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS), realized $19,550
• Lot 3856, 1860-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS), realized $14,375
• Lot 3857, 1861-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-62 (NGC), realized $20,700
• Lot 3858, 1862-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-62 (NGC), realized $25,300
• Lot 3859, 1863-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-63 (NGC), realized $28,750
• Lot 3860, 1864-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-63 * (NGC), realized $28,750
For a complete list of prices realized for the November 2009 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 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. The firm was awarded the prestigious honor of Official Auctioneer for the 2009 American Numismatic Association Conventions in Portland and Los Angeles, in addition to their continued 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 or Executive Vice President Rick Ponterio. Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.