Bowers And Merena Realizes More Than $4.4 Million At Baltimore Rarities Sale Prior To Ana World’s Fair Of Money

Top Honors Go to 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel in PCGS MS-64 at $155,250, and 1931-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle in PCGS MS-64 at $92,000

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 1302, a 1931-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle graded MS-64 by PCGS realized $92,000. The 1931-D is the eighth rarest of the 53 business strike issues in the Saint-Gaudens series, and it is estimated that only 95-110 survive in all Mint State grades. Also notable was Lot 815, an 1892-S Morgan Silver Dollar in PCGS MS-63 that realized $75,900.

Currency was also in the spotlight, with Lot 93, Fr. 364, 1891 $5 Treasury Note, PCGS Superb Gem New 67PPQ realizing $12,650. Described in the catalog as the ultimate note from a run of closely grouped serials documented in the census as being varying degrees of Uncirculated, the Bowers and Merena offering was one of the finest, as just five examples have been certified at this level by PCGS and not a single one any higher. Also impressive was Lot 71, Fr. 248, 1896 $2 Silver Certificate, PCGS Gem New 66PPQ, which realized $14,375

“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:

Additional currency highlights include:

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.

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.