IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, conducted its second of two official American Numismatic Association auctions for 2009 over five live sessions last week at the Los Angeles Convention Center as the Official Auctioneer of the ANA World’s Fair of Money.

Teletrade Certified Coin & Currency Auctions, sister company to Bowers and Merena, served as the official online auctioneer for the show, conducting auctions on Sunday and Monday, August 9-10. Together they realized a total in excess of $15 million.

"It has been a tremendous opportunity to work with the ANA over this past year, first in Portland and especially now in our own backyard of Los Angeles. The ANA consistently presents a first rate show and it was a privilege to play such an important role in this event as the only official auctioneer," said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena.

"We are very pleased with the results of the auction. This was our second largest auction in the past five years by both value and number of lots, and under the present economy I think that speaks volumes."

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Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo Will Feature Collection of the Late Dr. Alfred R. Globus

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, returns to Baltimore, Md., for the Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo scheduled for November 10-14, 2009.

The auction will feature the collection of U.S. and world coins assembled by one of America’s most renowned numismatic collectors, Dr. Alfred R. Globus.

Dr. Alfred R. Globus was born July 1, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York. He received his Doctor of Science degree from Hanover College in Indiana and for a short time served as professor of biochemistry at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

He licensed his first chemical process at age 20 for the electrolytic recovery of iron from iron ore, and just two years after that he formed the company that would later become United-Guardian, Inc.

In 1943, he built a commercial plant for the production of vitally needed tungsten concentrates, and served as a consultant to the War Production Board during World War II. Dr. Globus served as the chief executive officer of United-Guardian for more than 60 years.

Over those years he was granted at least 35 patents for the many products and processes that he developed. Dr. Globus passed away in April of 2009 at age 88. Read the rest of this entry »

The American Numismatic Association presents its Medal of Merit annually to members who have dedicated years of service to the ANA and the hobby.

This year, Raymond W. Dillard and Jeffrey Swindling will be recognized during an awards ceremony Aug. 7 at the ANA World’s Fair of Money® in Los Angeles.

Dillard, of Fenton, Michigan, began creating elongated coins in 1982 and went on to produce eight designs for local historical sites. In 2000 he estimated he had rolled more than 2 million coins. His creations have included those for The Elongated Collectors (TEC) and ANA anniversary conventions. Read the rest of this entry »

Mark Olanoff of Reisterstown, Maryland, will be honored with the American Numismatic Association’s 2009 Outstanding Government Service Award. He will be presented his award Aug. 7 at the ANA’s World’s Fair of Money® in Los Angeles.

An ANA member since 2002, Olanoff has served with Diane Piret as co-chair of the ANA Government Affairs Committee for four years. In this position, he has helped advance the hobby in Washington, D.C., and kept the ANA apprised of federal and state legislation that could impact numismatics. Read the rest of this entry »

Merlin Szasz is the 2009 recipient of the American Numismatic Association’s Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture. The Rhode Island artist will accept the honor Aug. 8 at the ANA World’s Fair of Money® in Los Angeles.

Born in Lima, Ohio, Szasz earned a bachelor’s degree in art education from Bowling Green State University and a master’s in sculpture from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He received the Louis Comfort Tiffany Award for Sculpture (1964-65) and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) John R. Frazier Award for Excellence in Teaching (1996). Szasz is currently a professor of design in Foundation Studies at RISD. Read the rest of this entry »

Hobby contributors and advocates David W. Lange and Diane Piret will both receive the American Numismatic Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Aug. 8 during the World’s Fair of Money® in Los Angeles.

Lange resides in Florida and is a numismatic researcher and author who serves as Research Director at Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. His studies of U.S. coin series have received numerous awards, and his books have become standard hobby guides. Read the rest of this entry »

Thomas K. DeLorey has been selected as the American Numismatic Association’s 2009 Numismatist of the Year. The 37-year member will receive the award August 7 during the ANA World’s Fair of Money® in Los Angeles.

DeLorey grew up in suburban Detroit. His first position was staff writer and eventual editor of “Collectors’ Clearinghouse” for Coin World in Sidney, Ohio. He was at one time a serious collector of tokens and medals issued by Thomas L. Elder, one of the foremost U.S. coin dealers of the first half of the 20th century. DeLorey also was big on coins of the Republic of Honduras. (He authored award-winning articles on both topics for The Numismatist in the 1980s.) He credits his father with igniting his interest in numismatics. Read the rest of this entry »

The largest public array ever assembled in the United States of huge, modern, certified Chinese gold coins, ranging in size from five ounces to one kilo (32.15 ounces) each, will be displayed at the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money® convention in Los Angeles, August 5 – 9, 2009.

The presentation comes with an education lesson from the exhibitor, Nicholas Brown of Majestic Rarities in Chicago: "Protect your coins. Protect yourself!"

"There will be over 300 ounces of large, low-mintage gold.It will be the most amazing display of modern Chinese coins ever seen in the United States," said Brown.

Many of the rare coins in the planned display at the ANA convention (at combined booths 331 and 430) have a low mintage of only 200 each or less. Read the rest of this entry »

Jeff Ambio will be available for a book signing at the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, August 8th from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Ambio will be debuting and signing copies of his latest book, Collecting & Investing Strategies for Barber Dimes.

Many collectors and investors have eagerly awaited a publication on Barber Dimes. To help expand numismatic knowledge and increase the understanding and appreciation for this series Jeff Ambio wrote his book Collecting & Investing Strategies for Barber Dimes.

• Covers every proof and business strike from 1892-1916.
• Each chapter covers physical characteristics, pricing data and brief histories.
• Ambio provides suggestions for building a meaningful investment portfolio.
• Includes observations on third-party certifications.
• Suggests places in which to buy and sell Barber Dimes.

Jeff Ambio is a widely read numismatic author. His writings and articles are credited with groundbreaking work in the field and have appeared in numerous publications. Collecting & Investing Strategies for Barber Dimes is the first comprehensive book published on this important series in nearly 10 years. Read the rest of this entry »

Twenty-four sponsors contributed $111,000 in support of the American Numismatic Association’s 2009 World’s Fair of Money®, Aug. 5-9 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

"The support for this year’s convention has been incredibly strong," said David Truesdell, ANA sales and sponsorship manager. "We’re thrilled that in this tough economy so many businesses and dealers see value in the marketing opportunities the ANA offers at the World’s Fair of Money.

Our sponsors not only benefit from their marketing investment, but also contribute greatly to helping the ANA provide great educational programs and numismatic exhibits at no cost to our members."

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