Top Coin and Currency Honors from the Baltimore Rarities Sale Prior to ANA World’s Fair of Money Go to 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel in PCGS MS-64 at $155,250, and 1928 $500 PMG Gem 65EPQ Uncirculated Gold Certificate at $97,750
IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America’s leading rare coin auction house, hosted their Baltimore Rarities Sale on July 26, 2008, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, just prior to the ANA World’s Fair of Money. The auction presented approximately 1,100 coin and 200 currency lots and realized a total of $4,427,243.
Earning top dollar was Lot 384, a 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel, FS-016.5, graded MS-64 by PCGS that realized $155,250. A major condition rarity, this near-Gem is easily among the finest-known survivors of the variety, with a PCGS Population of 31 and a mere three finer in MS-65. Lot 1093, a 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, Small Eagle, BD-8, HBCC-3041, Miller-10, Rarity-5+, graded MS-63 PL by NGC, realized $146,625.
Described as "a really a nice coin" and a rarer die pairing of this historically significant and extremely popular federal gold issue, it is one of only four in the NGC Census, and a mere two finer with a PL designation as part of the grade. Also notable was Lot 1014, a 1796 Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle, BD-2, HBCC-3002, Rarity-4, No Stars in NGC AU-53 that realized $109,250.
Currency was also in the spotlight, with Lot 164, Fr. 2407, 1928 $500 Gold Certificate, PMG Gem Uncirculated 65EPQ realizing a very impressive $97,750. Truly Uncirculated $500 1928 Gold Certificates are rare, with only three of this number certified at the "65" level, and only a single example has ever earned a certification any higher from PMG, making this specimen an extremely scarce item in a superior grade attested to by PMG.
"Our Baltimore Rarities Sale came right on the heels of our Official Baltimore auction in June, which brings our total for the past two months to almost $10.7 million," said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena.
"Both auctions were very active and both conventions have been busy and productive, as well, and I’m happy to see such prosperity and enthusiasm within the industry."
Additional coin highlights include
| 164 | Fr. 2407 1928 $500 Gold Certificate. PMG Gem Uncirculated 65EPQ. | $97,750 |
| 356 | 1867 Shield Nickel. Rays. Proof-64 (PCGS). OGH (Old Green Holder). | $52,900 |
| 357 | 1867 Shield Nickel. Rays. Proof-64 (PCGS). | $46,000 |
| 438 | 1805 Draped Bust Dime. JR-2. Rarity-2. 4 Berries. MS-65 (NGC). | $36,800 |
| 683 | 1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-64 (NGC). | $45,425 |
| 717 | 1841 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar. MS-64 (NGC). CAC. | $39,100 |
| 815 | 1892-S Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-63 (PCGS). | $75,900 |
| 1086 | 1885 Three-Dollar Gold Piece. Proof-66 Cameo (PCGS). CAC. | $57,500 |
| 1094 | 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. Small Eagle. BD-8, HBCC-3041, Miller-10. Rarity-5+. AU-55 (PCGS). OGH (Old Green Holder). | $62,100 |
| 1095 | 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. Small Eagle. BD-3, HBCC-3033, Miller-2. Rarity-3+. AU-55 (PCGS). | $59,800 |
| 1105 | 1825/’1′ Capped Head Left Half Eagle. BD-1, HBCC-3147, Miller-149. Rarity-5+. AU-58 (NGC). | $42,550 |
| 1275 | 1915 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. Proof-66 (NGC). | $87,400 |
| 1279 | 1920-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. MS-62 (PCGS). | $69,000 |
| 1299 | 1927-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. MS-62 (PCGS). CAC. | $40,825 |
| 1302 | 1931-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. MS-64 (PCGS). | $92,000 |
Additional currency highlights include
| 50 | Lot of (2) Fr. 93 1862 $10 Legal Tender Notes. Consecutive Pair. PCGS About New 50PPQ & Choice About New 55PPQ. | $13,800 |
| 60 | Fr. 224. 1896 $1 Silver Certificate. PCGS Superb Gem New 67PPQ. | $9,545 |
| 71 | Fr. 248. 1896 $2 Silver Certificate. PCGS Gem New 66PPQ. | $14,375 |
| 93 | Fr. 364. 1891 $5 Treasury Note. PCGS Superb Gem New 67PPQ. | $12,650 |
| 94 | Fr. 370. 1891 $10 Treasury Note. PMG Superb Gem Uncirculated 67EPQ. | $14,375 |
| 102 | Fr. 753. 1918 $2 Federal Reserve Bank Note. PMG Superb Gem Uncirculated 67EPQ. | $13,800 |
| 161 | Fr. 2309*. 1934A $10 Silver Certificate Star Note. North Africa. PCGS Gem New 66PPQ. | $6,038 |
| 170 | Live Oak, FL. $10 1882 Value Back. Fr. 577. The FNB. Charter #(S)6055. Very Good. | $8,913 |
| 185 | Boston, MA. $2 Original Series. Fr. 387. The National Eagle Bank. Charter #993. PMG Very Fine 25. | $8,050 |
Prices realized for all lots in the Bowers and Merena Baltimore Rarities Sale are available online at www.bowersandmerena.com. Bowers and Merena’s next two auctions will be held in September prior to the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectible Expo. The Beverly Hills Rarities Sale will be Saturday, September 13, at The Tower Beverly Hills, with lot viewing September 11-13.
The Collector’s Choice Auction will be conducted on the Bowers and Merena website September 8-17, with lot viewing by appointment at their Irvine headquarters. Catalogs will be available by late August, and interested bidders are invited to visit www.bowersandmerena.com for complete auction and lot viewing schedules, or call 800.458.4646 to speak to a representative.
About Bowers and Merena Auctions
Bowers and Merena Auctions was founded in 1983 and has grown to become the world’s preeminent numismatic auctioneer with more than half a billion dollars in rare coin and currency sales. Bowers and Merena has handled four of the five most valuable United States coin collections ever sold, including the Louis E. Eliasberg Sr. Collection, the Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection, the Garrett Collection for The Johns Hopkins University, and the Norweb Collection.
For more information about Bowers and Merena and the Baltimore Rarities Sale or future auctions, call 800.458.4646. For media inquiries, ask for president Steve Deeds. Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.
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