(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 »

1795 half eagle, 1856-O double eagle and 1880 Coiled Hair stella among the offerings from Heritage, July 31-Aug. 2, in Beverly Hills

DALLAS, TX – Legends of TV and film will surrender the Hollywood spotlight for a night when a different kind of American star takes to the podium at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Beverly Hills: A historic 1854-S quarter eagle, graded VF35 NGC, will lead the Platinum Night offerings of Heritage Auction Galleries’ August 2009 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction, July 31-Aug. 2.

"This coin is truly a legendary rarity," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage, "and one of just a dozen known survivors from the first quarter eagle issue produced by the San Francisco Mint. In Heritage’s in-house condition census of the surviving 12, this example is rated fifth overall."

Just 246 examples of the 1854-S quarter eagle were struck since the San Francisco Mint focused on making larger denominations such as the eagle and double eagle, and the relative "small change" denomination of the gold dollar, leaving the quarter eagle and half eagle relatively neglected. 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."

Read the rest of this entry »

Chinese Year of the Dragon 2000 Yuan Kilo Gold leads World Coins with $115,000; post-auction buying continues, expected to push total past $18 million

DALLAS, TX – When the hammer came down on the dramatic 1856-O $20 double eagle on Friday night, May 29, during Heritage Auction Galleries’ Signature® Long Beach U.S. Coin Auction, the $1,437,500 total (including 15% Buyer’s Premium) elicited a spontaneous ovation from the buzzing crowd in the Long Beach Convention Center.

The combined totals for the Rare U.S. Coins and World Coins auction in Heritage’s annual start of summer event in California was approaching $18 million total as of Monday, June 1, with post-auction buying continuing to push the total even higher.

"To say that we’re pleased with these results is an understatement," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auction Galleries. "Everyone seems to be scrambling to figure out if the overall economy is improving or worsening; one thing is for certain, though: high quality rare U.S. and World coins are selling as well as ever and still provide one of the surest investment opportunities in the market."

Read the rest of this entry »

Rare Nicholas I Rouble and a solid gold "Money Chain" highlight the offerings

DALLAS, TX — International variety will be the name of the game at Heritage Auction Galleries Long Beach World Coin Auction, May 28-29 and 31, with an exceedingly rare 1770 Nuevo Reino Pillar Dollar anchoring the country and continent spanning collection.

Of the two that aren’t already in private hands – or held by private institutions – this one is by far the more pristine. It’s estimated at $60,000-$80,000 and officially listed as a Carlos III Pillar 8 Reales 1770NR-VJ, KM39 (Date Unlisted), Calico 1000, Cayon Unlisted, MS64 NGC.

Until three years ago, no one even knew that the 1770 Nuevo Reino Pillar Dollar existed. That changed quickly, however, when an amazing stash of 14 coins was found during the bulldozing of a parking lot in Bogota that was being razed for a new building. Buried beneath the dirt and the decades was the old foundations of the Nuestra Senora del Pilar church. Read the rest of this entry »

Coin traveled in the family of Charles Bienvenu, New Orleans Mint Superintendent in 1856

DALLAS, TX — The finest known certified New Orleans double eagle, the 1856-O Double Eagle, SP63 PCGS, descended for a century in the family of the New Orleans Mint Superintendent of 1856, Charles Bienvenu, will anchor Heritage Auction Galleries’ May Long Beach, CA Signature® US Coin Auction, May 28-31 at the Long Beach Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA.

"Many specialists believe that this is the single most important New Orleans double eagle in existence," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage, "and one of the most important O-mint coins of any denomination. With its sharp strike and reflective luster, this coin is clearly something special, and it has been recognized as a specimen striking by experts and the major grading services, first by NGC and now by PCGS."

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 »

May 12: Four numismatic news or coin blog articles are referenced on CoinNews every Tuesday and Thursday. These articles are not authored by us, but we recommend coin collectors read them for their unusual or interesting content. Here are today’s coin articles:

Mint To Press Fewer Coins As Economy Slows
Jeff Brady | NPR

The Federal Reserve was busy last year pumping $700 billion into the U.S. economy — expanding the country’s money supply by nearly 10 percent. But that doesn’t mean there are a lot more dollar bills circulating. In fact production statistics at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing have remained stable. And coin production has dropped precipitously…

Go to story »

Read the rest of this entry »

Monetarium (Australia) Pty. Ltd. will be auctioning Australia’s most respected and valuable rare gold coin collection, known as the Quartermaster Collection, in what is expected to be the most prestigious numismatic event in this nation’s history.

Sydney, Australia — The famed Quartermaster Collection, containing many of Australia’s most valuable and highest quality gold coins, will be going to auction on the 4th of June 2009.

Featuring many of Australia’s rarest coins, this Auction will be unlike any other seen in this country. The collection of 344 items is an anthology of Australian gold currency, spanning 1852 to 1931.

Tony Richardson, a director of Monetarium (Australia) Pty Ltd, says, "It’s an extraordinary achievement to have assembled such a comprehensive collection of rare coins. I doubt it will ever be seen again."

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 »