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.
Leading the way is an exceptionally attractive Double Eagle rarity at lot 4723, an 1870-CC $20 Winter 1-A in NGC EF-45. Rivaling only the 1870-CC Eagle for this honor, the 1870-CC is widely regarded as the rarest gold coin struck in the Carson City Mint. Federal records indicate that only 3,789 Double Eagles were struck in the Carson City Mint during 1870, and virtually all of those coins have since been lost. At the Choice EF level, the coin offered here qualifies as Condition Census for this rare and extremely challenging issue.
"This is really a very appealing example of the issue and a coin that is destined for inclusion in the finest collection of CC-mint and/or Liberty gold coinage," notes Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. "The surfaces are among the most appealing that we have ever seen for a ’70-CC Twenty, very impressive."
NGC Census is 7, with 5 finer through AU-55; the corresponding PCGS population is 11 with 5 finer through AU-53.
An exciting new discovery coin is found at lot 1143, an exceedingly rare 1795 S-79 Reeded Edge Liberty Cap Cent, one of just six pieces known to exist and the only example certified by PCGS or NGC. This 1795 S-79, Rarity-7+, Reeded Edge is graded Good-4 by PCGS and is mounted in a special PCGS holder that allows easy viewing of the edge, where the all-important reeding is easily seen. One of the most important large Cents of any type, date or variety ever offered by Bowers and Merena, this coin is sure to command a strong price from dedicated early Copper collectors.
"This is really a unique opportunity to acquire one of the rarest large cents ever minted," Deeds said.
One of the two highest-graded 1802 Quarter Eagles draws attention at lot 4309, an 1802/’1′ Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle, BD-3, HBCC-3009, Rarity-5, in MS-65 by NGC. NGC Census on this visually impressive example of the issue is just 2 and none are finer, with the highest-graded examples known to PCGS being MS-63s.
Currency enthusiasts will be treated to an exceptional selection of more than 800 lots. Topping the list is lot 5451, an important and finest known Fr. 1179 $20 Technicolor. This remarkable note, Fr. 1179, 1905 $20 Gold Certificate, PMG Superb Gem Uncirculated 67EPQ, enjoys a PMG population of just 1, none finer, with PMG grading only two 66s and the finest PCGS grade being a 64. The note itself has amazing color and eye appeal.
Additional coin highlights
Lot 1137 1793 Wreath Cent. S-8. Rarity-3-. Vine and Bars Edge. MS-63 BN (PCGS). CAC.
Lot 1143 1795 Liberty Cap Cent. S-79. Rarity-7+. Reeded Edge. G-4 (PCGS).
Lot 1147 1799/8 Draped Bust Cent. S-188. Rarity-4. VF-25 (PCGS). OGH.
Lot 1167 1856 Braided Hair Cent. N-5. Rarity-5-. Slanted 5. Proof-66 RB (PCGS). CAC. OGH.
Lot 1704 1920-D Buffalo Nickel. MS-67 * (NGC).
Lot 1711 1923-S Buffalo Nickel. MS-66 * (NGC).
Lot 1743 1927-S Buffalo Nickel. MS-66 * (NGC).
Lot 2016 1841 25C PR61 PCGS
Lot 2067 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter. MS-65 FH (PCGS).
Lot 2092 1919-D Standing Liberty Quarter. MS-66 FH (PCGS).
Lot 2396 1897 Barber Half Dollar. Proof-69 Ultra Cameo (NGC).
Lot 2441 1920-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-66 (PCGS).
Lot 2442 1920-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-66 (PCGS).
Lot 2627 1799/8 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-141, B-3. Rarity-3. 15-Stars Reverse. MS-62 (NGC).
Lot 2648 1836 Gobrecht Silver Dollar. Name Below Base. Judd-58 Restrike, Pollock-61. Rarity-6-. Proof-63 (NGC).
Lot 3115 1882 Trade Dollar. Proof-67 Ultra Cameo (NGC).
Lot 4303 1881 Gold Dollar. MS-69 (NGC).
Lot 4309 1802/’1′ Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle. BD-3, HBCC-3009. Rarity-5. MS-65 (NGC).
Lot 4632 1903 Liberty Eagle. Proof-67 (NGC).
Lot 4723 1870-CC $20 EF45 NGC
Lot 5868 China. Republic (1911-). Yuan Shih-kai Silver Pattern Dollar by L. Giorgi. Year 3 (1914).
Lot 5976 Japan. Tokugawa Iyemochi Shogunate (1858-1866). Gold and Silver Oban. Undated (Manen Era, 1860-1861). Machine-Made Horizontal Crenulations.
Lot 6024 Scotland. George III (1760-1820). Glasgow, Lanarkshire. WG & Co. 4 Shillings, 9 Pence Counterstamp on a U.S. 1795 Flowing Hair, Two Leaves Silver Dollar. Counterstamp Undated (1820-1821)
Additional currency highlights
Lot 5315 Fr. 263. 1886 $5 Silver Certificate. PCGS Apparent Gem New 65.
Lot 5328 Fr. 282. 1923 $5 Silver Certificate. PMG Gem Uncirculated 66EPQ.
Lot 5338 Fr. 1188. 1882 $50 Gold Certificate. PCGS Apparent Very Fine 20.
Lot 5374 Lot of (4) Fr. 752. 1918 $2 Federal Reserve Bank Note. Cut Sheet. PMG 64 & 66EPQ.
Lot 5383 Fr. 768. 1918 $2 Federal Reserve Bank Note. PCGS Choice New 63PPQ.
Lot 5388 Fr. 824. 1915 $20 Federal Reserve Bank Note. PCGS Gem New 65PPQ.
Lot 5423 Fr. 1072b. 1914 $100 Federal Reserve Note. Red Seal. PCGS Extremely Fine 40PPQ.
Lot 5451 Fr. 1179. 1905 $20 Gold Certificate. PMG Superb Gem Uncirculated 67EPQ.
Lot 5463 Fr. 301. 1891 $10 Silver Certificate. PCGS Gem New 65PPQ.
Lot 5466 Fr. 1199. 1913 $50 Gold Certificate. PCGS Gem New 65PPQ.
Lot 5550 Fr. 1951-A*. 1928A $5 Federal Reserve Star Note. PMG Gem Uncirculated 65EPQ
Lot 5580 Fr. 2202-B. 1934A $500 Federal Reserve Notes. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64EPQ (1)/PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 EPQ (2)/PMG About Uncirculated 55EPQ (4).
Lot 5619 Fr. 2400. 1928 $10 Gold Certificate. PCGS Superb Gem New 68PPQ
Lot 5666 Tombstone, AZ. $10 1902 Plain Back. Fr. 628. The FNB. Charter #6439. Fine.
Lot 5788 Wheeling, WV. $1 Original Series. Fr. 380. The FNB. Charter #360. Very Fine.
All lots and images in the Bowers and Merena Official Auction of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention can be viewed online at www.bowersandmerena.com, and printed catalogs are available upon request by calling 800.458.4646.
Bidding will open in early-November. 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 Bowers and Merena, Baltimore Auction November 2008, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA, 92614.
Interested bidders are also encouraged to view lots and bid in-person at the live auction November 18-22, 2008, 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.
About Bowers and Merena Auctions
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 have been 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 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.
For more information about Bowers and Merena and the Official Auction of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention in November, call 800.458.4646. For media inquiries, ask for President Steve Deeds. Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.
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