IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena, America’s leading rare coin and currency auction house, realized an impressive $5.9 million with its 1,000-lot Chicago Rarities Sale. The auction was conducted in a single session on April 15, 2008, with Internet bidding taking place prior to the sale through the Bowers and Merena website, www.bowersandmerena.com.

“We are very pleased with the excellent results achieved by this sale,” stated Bowers and Merena president Steve Deeds. “It is an honor for us to be trusted with the sale of such important numismatic rarities in a dynamic market. My heartfelt thanks goes out to all of our consignors without whose support we could not maintain Bowers and Merena’s position as America’s preeminent numismatic auctioneer. And, of course, I cannot forget our loyal bidders—you also have my sincerest thanks for contributing to another successful Bowers and Merena Rarities Sale. May you cherish and enjoy your recent acquisitions for years to come.”

The Marquette-Yakima Set of Washington Quarters resulted in significant prices realized. The highlight of the set is definitely the 1932-D in PCGS MS-66 offered as lot 322. A pop 1/0 coin, this beautifully toned Gem brought $143,750—the highest price ever paid for an example of this key-date issue. Other top-of-the-pop rarities from this set include a 1943-S in PCGS MS-68 (lot 360) that traded for $23,000; a very pretty 1954-S in the same grade (lot 393) that brought $10,350; and a unique 1961-D graded MS-67 at PCGS (lot 403) whose realized price is $18,975.

Additional highlights from the Chicago Rarities Sale include:

• Lot 934, MCMVII (1907) Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. High Relief. Flat Edge. MS-66 (PCGS), realized $88,550.
• Lot 981, 1920-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. MS-62 (PCGS), realized $69,000.
• Lot 98, 1922 No D Lincoln Cent. Die Pair II. Strong Reverse. MS-64 BN (PCGS). CAC, realized $57,500.
• Lot 620, 1901 Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-64 (PCGS), realized $51,463.

Complete prices realized for this and other past Bowers and Merena auctions are available online at www.bowersandmerena.com. For more information on the Chicago Rarities Sale, or to consign to a future Bowers and Merena auction, call toll free at 800.458.4646.

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 Chicago Rarities Sale 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.