October Auction Features Two Outstanding Collections, "The East Bay Collection of International Banknotes" and "The Eduard Kann Chinese Banknote Collection"

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, will conduct an auction of exceptional international banknotes in New York City on October 27-28, 2008, with lot viewing at the auction site October 25-28.

The auction is compiled of two premier collections, "The East Bay Collection of International Banknotes" and "The Eduard Kann Chinese Banknote Collection," consisting of more than 2,000 total lots.

It will be held at the Hilton Times Square, with live auction simulcasts at the John Bull Auctions offices in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, and the Heinrich Köhler Auktionshaus offices in Wiesbaden, Germany. Pre-auction lot viewing will be available in multiple locations around the world, including California, Germany and Hong Kong, as well as at the Maastricht Paper Money Show in the Netherlands, the PCDA Paper Money Convention in St. Louis, Mo., and prior to the auction in New York.

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The following numismatic articles are not written for CoinNews, but we recommend collectors read them for their unusual or interesting content:

Peru Demands Return of Odyssey Treasure, Garcia Belaunde Says
By Alex Emery, Bloomberg.com

Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc.’s 17 ton-haul (15,400 kilograms) of sunken treasure from the Atlantic Ocean originated in Peru and must be returned, the Andean country’s Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde said today.

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Rare glitch in some Wyoming quarters yet to create collecting frenzy
By Lisa Bisbee, Jackson Hole Star Tribune

GILLETTE — Like thousands of Americans, Gillette resident Gordon Evans has collected state quarters — adding each state as it is released. Now, with news that the Wyoming bucking-horse-and-rider quarters might be worth more than 25 cents, Evans is rechecking the Cowboy State quarter in his possession to see if he has one with a unique characteristic.

Read ‘Rare glitch in some Wyoming quarters yet to create collecting frenzy’ »

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New York gold futures fell further Thursday, reaching an impressive nine-day losing streak and smashing through the mental $750 barrier. Silver and platinum faltered as well, while the US dollar gained against the euro.

Gold prices were not helped by oil either. October crude fell another $1.71 to $100.87 per barrel; its lowest level since early April,

December silver dropped 33 cents, or 3 percent, to end at $10.56 an ounce.

October platinum dropped further by $39.80, or 3.3 percent, to close at $1,152.20 an ounce.

December gold fell $17, or 2.2 percent, to close to $745.50 an ounce, a price not seen since last October.

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Sand from the Great Pyramid of Giza has been encapsulated within silver and gold commemorative coins featuring the Wonders of the Modern World.

The 2008 proof commemoratives were minted on behalf of the Isle of Man Government by the Pobjoy Mint, who has become known for their innovative approach to modern coin issues, and minted the world’s first pyramid shaped coin in 2007.

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Young collectors at a museum in Arkansas can spend a day and receive tips and instructions for researching, caring for and displaying their collection — all for free, on Saturday, September 20.

Rogers Historical Museum, located in Rogers, Arkansas, is offering a Collector’s Day for children and families that includes a workshop to teach young collectors to display coins and other treasures in "museum-quality exhibits."

While the event is local, it is noteworthy for a museum to spend their time and resources to offer youth educational classes with fun hands-on activities for collectors. It is an event worthy of emulation across the nation.

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The Reserve Bank of Fiji launched a national awareness campaign on Thursday promoting upcoming changes to Fiji’s coinage structure.

Deputy Governor Mr. Sada Reddy said the nation’s smallest denominated coins, the 1 cent and 2 cent, would be withdrawn from circulation when stocks run out. Reddy also indicated the Reserve Bank would officially pull them from circulation beginning on October 13, 2008.

In further coinage changes, Fiji will create five new coins that are smaller, lighter and composed of less expensive metals.

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