Bowers and Merena’s Big Finish for 2008 Brings more than 4,300 lots to the Official Auction of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention in November. Highlights Including the Exceptional 1870-CC Double Eagle Rarity and One of the Two Highest-Graded 1802 Quarter Eagles, Along With a New Discovery 1795 Reeded Edge Cent

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, finishes strong for 2008 as Official Auctioneer of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention for the third time this year, with their upcoming auction scheduled for November 18-22, 2008, at the Baltimore Convention Center. 

Bowers and Merena will continue their longstanding association with the convention into 2009 and beyond with three more official Baltimore auctions in 2009. This November auction will present more than 4,300 coin and currency lots during five sessions.  

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New York gold finally showed some luster Friday by rising 2.2 percent. Silver and platinum fell 2.2 and 1.3 percent, respectively, although they gained back a sizable portion of earlier day losses. Oil tumbled once again, and has fallen 11 percent on the week.

December crude oil fell $3.69, or 5.4 percent, to close at $64.15 per barrel, marking its lowest level in 17 months. In OPEC’s Friday meeting, a decision was made to cut its quota of 28.8 million barrels per day by 1.5 million barrels beginning on November 1.

Despite that, concerns over a slowing global economy with resulting less demand for oil set the tone for Friday’s decline.

December silver fell 21 cent to close at $9.30 an ounce. It went as low as $8.65.

January platinum dropped $10.30 to end at $802.30 an ounce. It reached an earlier low of $768.10.

Gold for December gained $15.60 to settle at $730.30 an ounce. Read the rest of this entry »

Born in New York in December of 1782, Martin Van Buren holds the distinction of being the first president to be born in a newly independent Nation. He is the fourth and final president to be honored on Presidential $1 coins for 2008.

To celebrate Martin Van Buren’s presidency, the United States Mint releases the bulk of the individual products featuring his portrait on Monday, October 27, at 12:00 Noon ET.

The products include the $1 Coin Cover, Individual Proof Coin, Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Set, and the previously discussed Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set.

Information for the first three products follow.

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