(Irvine, California) — A wide selection of rare ancient and world coins will be offered in Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® at the Los Angeles Convention Center and online, August 2-8, 2009. Ponterio & Associates, Inc., a division of Bowers and Merena, will present the world sessions on Saturday, August 8.

One of the many highlights among the over 1,300 lots of desirable and appealing world coins is a Japanese undated (1860-1862) Manen oban (10 Ryo, 112.26 gms) with security edge (Fr. 7; JNDA-09-11; C24a2) in Extremely Fine condition. Read the rest of this entry »

(Irvine, California) — More than 500 U.S. and world bank notes will be offered in the Official Auction of the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® conducted by Bowers and Merena Auctions at the Los Angeles Convention Center and online, August 2 – 8, 2009. 

One of the many highlights is an 1870 $100 Gold National Bank Note, San Francisco Charter #1741, The First National Gold Bank (Fr. 1162), graded PMG Fine 12 Net (restorations).

"This classic rarity is one of only eight notes of this type in private hands, and one of three of this Friedberg number.  Those others are in strong hands and not likely to become available in the foreseeable future. 

In fact, only three examples have been offered for public sale in the last decade and the latest example, nearly identical to this one, sold for $258,700 in 2007," said Steve Deeds, President of Bowers and Merena (www.BowersandMerena.com).

"With collectors holding tightly to the others, we’re not sure when there will be another opportunity to acquire such a rare and elusive note."

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The quantity of banknotes produced by the US government in May increased over April, but fewer denominations were printed and the total value of all notes declined, according to Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) figures released Friday.

In comparing the months, the agency printed more $1s and $20s in May, but fewer $100s and no $5s. And similar to April, no $10s or $50s were produced.

In total, 620,800,000 banknotes were produced last month valued at $17,286,400,000. By contrast, the BEP printed 617.6 M notes worth $17.8 billion in April. Read the rest of this entry »

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has launched the first installment of 2009 $2 Single Notes featuring crisp banknotes representative of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Dallas. The price for each is $7.95.

A single note subscription program is also available where the BEP’s entire collection of 10 Federal Reserve Bank notes may be purchased for $79.50. (Notes not yet released are shipped when available.)

To place orders, collectors may visit the BEP online page 2009 $2 Single Note Collection - First Installment. Once there, customers are directed to download a PDF order form, complete the purchase information, and then e-mail (moneyfactory.sales@bep.treas.gov) or fax (1-888-891-7585) the order to the BEP. Orders may also be placed by phone at 1-800-456-3408. Read the rest of this entry »

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has announced the launch of the 2009 $2 Single Note Collection Subscription Program.

For $79.50, collectors can guarantee delivery, as they are made available through the year, of one Series 2003A $2 note from 10 of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks — Minneapolis and Kansas City Districts are excluded. The notes are attractive in that each is crisp, uncirculated and bears a serial number beginning with "2009xxxxD." Read the rest of this entry »

Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention Includes Legendary 1876-CC Twenty-Cent Piece with Five-Generation History

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, will bring nearly 2,500 lots of fine coins and currency to Baltimore, Md., for the Official Auction of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention scheduled for June 10-13, 2009.

The auction will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center and begins with lot viewing Wednesday, June 10, through Friday, June 12, followed by the three-session auction on Thursday, June 11, at 6 p.m. EDT, and Friday, June 12, at 2 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. EDT.

The standout highlight of the auction is lot 757, an 1876-CC Twenty-Cent Piece in PCGS AU-58 with a fascinating history. Believed to be one of perhaps just 12 to 20 examples known, this specimen was acquired in Virginia City, Nev., by Gold Rush "Forty-Niner" John Seagraves Pick and has been kept in the Pick/Jurgensen family for the last 133 years. As a PCGS AU-58, this important piece is the only circulated 1876-CC Twenty-Cent piece known to PCGS and NGC. It was also previously certified AU-58 by ANACS from a submission that dates to the early 1990s. Read the rest of this entry »

The same amount of banknotes were produced by the US government in April as in March, but the total value of those notes was less, according to Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) figures released Thursday.

In comparing the months, the agency printed more $1s and the same number of $5s. However, fewer $20s, $100’s, and no $10s or $50s were printed.

In total, 617,600,000 banknotes were produced last month valued at $17,785,600,000. In contrast, the BEP printed 617.6 M notes worth $22.1 billion in February. Read the rest of this entry »

Ponterio & Associates, Inc. realizes more than $1.5 million as the Official Auctioneer of the Chicago International Coin Fair (C.I.C.F.) Extraordinary Panama 50 Pesos Note Realizes over $37,000

IRVINE, Calif. – Ponterio & Associates, Inc., a division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, returned to Chicago to present the Official Auction of the Chicago International Coin Fair (C.I.C.F.), April 23-25, 2009, at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare in Rosemont, Ill.

The auction realized a total of $1,510,300 offering close to 3,000 lots of coins and currency from around the world, including lots from Russia, China, Mexico, Cuba, Australia, Latin America, and more.  

The spotlight was surely on lot 438, PANAMA, Banco de Panama, 50 Pesos, (ND) circa 1869, P-S725, which realized $37,375. Listed as Very Fine with a catalog estimate of $3,000 to $4,000, this lot realized well above that as a result of spirited floor bidding from some enthusiastic collectors. One of a handful of important Panama-related items in the auction, this rare 50 Pesos note with a very low serial number of "0010" is one that few collectors will ever have the opportunity to see. Read the rest of this entry »

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) on Monday launched the subscription program for the Lincoln Freedom Collection.

The collection includes 12 Series 2006 $5 Notes — first released into circulation on March 13, 2008 — from each of the Federal Reserve Banks.

By purchasing the subscription program for $299.40, collectors guarantee receipt of all banknotes, and save $60.00 from the total price of purchasing each individually at $29.95. Features of the series include: Read the rest of this entry »

The release date and time for the second installment of the "We the People" Series 2004A $10 Single Note Collection has been announced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP).

$10 notes representative of the Federal Reserve Districts of Philadelphia, Cleveland, Minneapolis, and Kansas City will go on sale at 9:00 A.M. (ET) on Thursday, April 30, for $35 per note.

Features of the series include: Read the rest of this entry »