IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, launched 2009 with two outstanding auctions. The Orlando Rarities Sale held on January 4 prior to the Orlando FUN Convention realized $4,745,806, followed by the Ponterio & Associates, Inc., N.Y.I.N.C. ’09 Auction on January 9 and 10 which realized $1,648,460. 

The Orlando spotlight was on Lot 225, a fully complete, exceptionally high-grade set of Business Strike Three-Cent Nickels, PCGS-certified and bearing the CAC designation, which realized $304,750.  Comprised exclusively of top-of-the-pop coins, many of which are pop 1/0, this complete set is ranked at the top of the Current-Finest PCGS Registry in the category of Three-Cent Nickels, Circulation Strikes (1865-1889) – a top-ranked Registry Set acquired with a single purchase.

Also garnering attention was Lot 1387, a 1921 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle from the Mises Institute Collection, graded MS-63 by PCGS, that realized $287,500; and Lot 1280, a 1799 Capped Bust Right Eagle, BD-7, HBCC-3188, Taraszka-19, Rarity-3, Small Stars Obverse, graded MS-64 by PCGS and also bearing the CAC designation, which realized $132,250.  Read the rest of this entry »

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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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 – Heritage Auction Galleries has just posted prices realized approaching $7 million on its Signature Auction of Ancient and World Coins, held as an official auction of the New York International Numismatic Convention in New York City (NYINC).

At the conclusion of sales of Post Auction Buys and non-floor session material (ending Jan. 13), total prices Realized are expected to well exceed $7 million. This was the lead event in a week of Heritage auctions that will see more than 18,000 lots of rare coins and currency valued above $50 million sold in New York City and Orlando, Florida. Prices realized information on all auctions can be found at www.HA.com. 

"This auction, Heritage’s seventh Official NYINC event at the Waldorf-Astoria, featured nearly 3000 lots of ancient and world coins from 225+ consignors," said Warren Tucker, Heritage’s Director of World Coin Auctions. "This could well be our most valuable auction ever of ancient and world coins. Our prior record of $7,157,933 was set only last year at our June Long Beach Signature Auction, so this will be very close. It speaks well of the strength of the world coin market and our global marketing outreach wherever the final numbers fall." Read the rest of this entry »

Rare and important Coin Medallion of Hadrian Augustus also headlines

Dallas, TX – A trio of exceptional coins from ancient Rome is being offered in Heritage Auction Galleries’ Signature® Auction of Ancient & World Coins to be held at the New York International Numismatic Convention, in New York City on January 4-5, 2009. The Heritage auction and the Convention will be held at the Waldorf-Astoria. Details can be found on the Heritage website, HA.com, where the auction will be posted in early December for inspection and bidding.

"Among the many magnificent ancient coins in the NYINC auction," noted Cristiano Bierrenbach, Heritage’s Director of International Sales, "are a pair of coins graded as "Fleur de Coin" – a French phrase meaning ‘absolutely perfect in every way.’ This denotes a coin that is not only technically uncirculated, but appears as fresh as the day it was minted. The earlier of the pair is a gold Roman Imperial Aureus of Lucius Verus, minted 161-169 A.D.; NGC has graded it as ‘Gem Uncirculated – F.D.C.’"

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