Dallas, TX – The Official Currency Auction of the FUN 2009 Convention in Orlando, presented by Heritage Auction Galleries, has posted prices realized exceeding $6.1 million. This was part of a weeklong series of Heritage auctions that also realized $52 million in U.S. rare coins sold at FUN, and $7 million in ancient and world coins sold at NYINC.

Nearly three thousand bidders participated in the 5,575 lot currency auction, and just below half of them were successful. Altogether, Heritage offered more than 19,000 lots at the FUN & NYINC venues. Overall, 87% of the FUN lots found new owners. All lots are currently posted at HA.com for post-auction research. The totals are expected to further increase as Post Auction Buys continue. FUN 2009 was Heritage’s – and the numismatic industry’s – third most valuable auction

"We were pleased with our FUN 2009 results," noted Allen Mincho. "With all of the dislocations in the national economy, we were pleased that demand for rare currency was only off a little from the 2008 highs – and at that, many notes sold at FUN for record prices. We think this is a very positive start for 2009, as the currency collector community responded with real strength for notes that they desired.

FUN was also Heritage’s first auction to extensively feature our new Video Lot Descriptions; the reception of bidders and consignors has been most gratifying. We invite you to visit HA.com and see for yourself. We also saw many clients participating – and winning – through our HERITAGE Live! online bidding system."

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Greg Rohan and Todd Imhof offer commentary on the state of the market at www.HA.com.

Dallas, TX – On the heels of the success of Heritage Auction Galleries’ $65 million-plus FUN and NYINC auctions, Jan. 7-10. Heritage President Greg Rohan, and Vice President Todd Imhof, sat down for a candid discussion of the current trends in rare coins and currency, the surprising success of the FUN auctions, and the convincing testament that the strong results are due to the viability of rare coins and currency in the face of economic contraction in almost every sector of the market as a whole.

"I found it very powerful that people at the FUN auctions decided that they’d rather have $60 million in rare coins and currency than $60 million in cash in the bank," said Rohan. "It’s a good time to be a coin collector."

The strength of the auctions, and the overall coin market, at a time when the economy is in rapid retreat, is certainly not lost on Rohan, Imhof or the rest of the Heritage staff. The economic turmoil in world markets, and its possible affect on FUN in specific and collectibles in general, has been a subject of much speculation in the company. Yet the Heritage model of management, consignment and bidding has proven an exception to the rule so far; perhaps even proving to be a boon. Read the rest of this entry »

Dallas, TX. The Official Auctions of the FUN 2009 Convention in Orlando have been posted by Heritage Auction Galleries on their HA.com website. Spread over seven separate FUN catalogs of U.S. coins and currency were 15,000-plus lots belonging to 600-plus consignors that Heritage offered at the January convention of Florida United Numismatists.

The FUN auctions realized $52 million in rare coins and $6 million in currency. A further $7 million in ancient and world coins (4,200 lots) sold at the New York International Numismatic Convention Signature® Auction. To date, more than 3,300 FUN bidders have been successful, more than one-third of the 9,000 FUN bidders participating.

At FUN, 89% of the coin lots sold, and overall 87% of the lots found new owners. All lots are currently posted at HA.com for post-auction research. The totals are expected to further increase as Post Auction Buys and non-floor sessions continue.

"FUN 2009 was simply amazing," enthused Heritage President Greg Rohan, "and we are pleased that 2009 is off to such a strong start. We continued to see strong demand for rare coins and currency despite the economic afflictions seen in the rest of the economy. We offered rarities across all series, and the collector community responded with strength – and we are even seeing some new clients who are turning to rare coins for diversification. Read the rest of this entry »

Dallas, TX – The Official Auctions of the FUN 2009 Convention in Orlando began on Wednesday, Jan. 7, and spectacular results have already been posted in Heritage’s first Pattern Night session featuring The Lemus Collection – Queller Family Collection Part Two.

Containing 465 different Patterns, the collection was so extensive that it warranted a special catalog, and posted prices realized totaling $8,361,219. The Lemus Patterns were followed by a further session of patterns from the holdings of more than 600 consignors participating in Heritage’s FUN auctions, which brought in an additional $650,000. As additional sessions take place in Heritage’s $50 million, 15,000+ lot auction, results will be posted on its Web site (www.HA.com).

"We expected FUN 2009 to be amazing," said Heritage President Greg Rohan, "and so far we’re thrilled. We’re just incredibly excited about the coins and notes we’re bringing to the eager buyers in Orlando.

FUN started just days after we presented our $7 million auction of Ancient and World Coins at the New York International Numismatic Convention. FUN is the world’s largest coin show, and Heritage is the world’s largest numismatic auctioneer; these events are always exciting!"

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(Orlando, Florida) – The unique 1793 Wreath U.S. large cent variety (Sheldon NC-5, Crosby 10-F) in the collection of the American Numismatic Society (ANS) has been authenticated and graded by Professional Coin Grading Service as PCGS AU-58. The coin has a distinguished pedigree dating back to 1881, but this was the first time it has been formally certified by a third-party grading service.

"PCGS experts examined this amazing coin and encapsulated it at the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) convention in Orlando, Florida, on dealer set-up day, January 7, 2009.  It was truly awe-inspiring to see it in person," said Don Willis, President of PCGS, a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT).

After certification by PCGS, the coin was placed on display at the FUN convention booth of early American copper specialists, Chris McCawley and Bob Grellman, alongside selected highlights from the large cent collection of Daniel W. Holmes, Jr., an ANS Trustee.  It was the first time the coin has been publicly seen outside New York City since it was donated to ANS 63 years ago. Read the rest of this entry »

Dallas, TX: On Friday, Dec. 19, at Heritage’s request on behalf of its consignors, CAC reviewed a portion of the coins from the Thursday evening FUN Platinum Night session after the catalog was printed.

The following coins (listed by lot number), which were not listed as CAC certified in the printed catalog, were subsequently stickered by CAC.

Due to time constraints, no Jim O’Neal $10 Indians, Morgan and Peace silver dollars, or Pattern Night coins were submitted to CAC for viewing, only readily available lots from Session 6 (lots 3532 through 4241). Read the rest of this entry »

The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) will display Sunnywood’s "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" set of exquisitely toned Morgan silver dollars and PCGS Co-Founder David Hall will participate in an important educational forum at the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) annual convention in Orlando, January 8 - 11, 2009. 

Hall will be a featured expert in the FUN seminar, "2009 or 1929? You Can Survive and Thrive During the Economic Crisis," at 1:15 p.m., Saturday, January 10.

"The Sunnywood’s collection is a 100 percent complete, basic set of circulation strike Morgan dollars (1878 – 1921) with spectacular natural toning.  The set is ranked number six in the PCGS Set Registry with a weighted grade point average and set rating of 64.611," said BJ Searls, Set Registry Manager.

"The collection was assembled by attorney Douglas Kurz who will be on hand at FUN to discuss the composition of the set. One of the main attractions is an 1881-S graded PCGS MS68 with vivid rainbow toning that’s considered by many Morgan dollar enthusiasts to be the ultimate, finest-toned Morgan known."

Other highlights of the 97-coin set include: Read the rest of this entry »

Website and Catalog Feature Exclusive Input on Select Coins by PCGS Founder and Director, David Hall

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin auction house, kicks off festivities in Orlando on Tuesday, January 8, 2008, with the Bowers and Merena Orlando Rarities Sales, featuring 670 rare and desirable coin lots sure to satisfy the tastes of the most discerning collector. The auction will be held at the International Plaza Resort & Spa in the heart of Orlando’s bustling entertainment district, two days prior to the Orlando F.U.N. Show.

As a special feature of this and future auctions that will be enjoyed by bidders and consignors alike, Bowers and Merena launches a new arrangement with PCGS founder and director, David Hall. Mr. Hall will be offering his exclusive input on many of the coins in this Orlando auction as well as upcoming Bowers and Merena auctions. For a limited time only, he will talk on video about coins offered at auction by Bowers and Merena. The videos will be available online before the auction for potential bidders to view, and also partially transcribed into the printed catalog descriptions. In addition, Bowers and Merena will keep an online video archive of these comments by Mr. Hall.

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"One of the Most Popular of all Registry Sets"

(Santa Ana, California) — The PCGS Set Registry all-time number one finest set of modern U.S. proof coins from 1968 to the present will be exhibited by Professional Coin Grading Service during the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) convention (booth #138) in Orlando, January 10 – 13, 2008.

“The 361-coin set carries an incredible weighted grade point average of 70.22 out of a possible 70.28, and has been ranked the top set of its kind the past three years,” said BJ Searls, PCGS Set Registry Manager.

Known as the Erasmus Hall Collection, it was assembled by New York City physician and medical school professor, Dr. Lawrence S. Brown Jr., who says he owes his coin collecting passion to his love of history.

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