Break Bread with Halperin, Raise Dough for ANA

(Dallas, Texas) – An unprecedented "lot" will be offered in conjunction with the official auction of the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® convention in Baltimore: lunch with Heritage Auction Galleries Co-Chairman, best-selling author and acclaimed numismatic authority, Jim Halperin.

All proceeds from the winning bid, including the buyer’s premium, will be donated to the ANA’s education programs for improving numismatic resources on the ANA web site, including the successful Coins in the Classroom project that is used by teachers nationwide.

The winning bidder will have a one-on-one lunch with Halperin at a mutually convenient time and place.

"The rarity of this offering cannot really be overstated.  I don’t recall ever in our 21 years working together of having lunch one-on-one with Jim," quipped Heritage President Greg Rohan.

The lunch date lot will be offered during Heritage’s Platinum Night sale, Wednesday evening, July 30, 2008, in the Baltimore Convention Center.  Bids will be accepted in person and online at www.HA.com.

The first bid already has been received.  Numismatic author and former ANA Vice President, Scott A. Travers of New York City, has opened the bidding at $1,500.  Travers suggested the fund-raising auction after exchanging e-mails with Halperin about a recent charity auction involving a lunch date with renowned investor Warren Buffett, a subject of personal interest to Halperin.  

"About eight years ago, my friend Scott Tilson and I bought lunch with Warren Buffett at a charity auction for $20,000, and we enjoyed it so much that we bought it again the following year – for $30,000," said Halperin. 

"Mr. Buffett has made it an annual event, and since then the price has been rising precipitously.  Recently, the same lunch sold for $2.11 million.  I’ll be thrilled if mine nets the ANA even 1/1000th of that amount."

The author of How to Grade U.S. Coins, Halperin is widely regarded as "the best eye" in the business for his knowledge and expertise in assessing the condition and value of coins. 

A well-known futurist, he is the author of two best-selling science fiction books (The Truth Machine and The First Immortal), and donates all his author’s royalties to a nonprofit health education foundation.  In addition to coins, Halperin actively collects Mad Magazine memorabilia, EC comics and early 20th century American art. 

For additional information, contact Heritage Auction Galleries at (800) 872-6467 or online at www.HA.com.

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About Heritage Auction Galleries

Heritage Auction Galleries is the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Our 353,061 members are a testament to our reputation for professional business practices and unprecedented knowledge in the field of collectibles. Our mission is to provide the Internet’s most indispensable trading platform and source of information for serious collectors, investors and dealers.