Highlights Include Extraordinary 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel FS-016.5 in PCGS MS-64

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions, America's leading rare coin auction house, will host their Baltimore Rarities Sale in July at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, just prior to the ANA World’s Fair of Money. The auction of 1,300 lots will be presented on Saturday, July 26, with lot viewing scheduled for Thursday to Saturday, July 24-26, and lot pick-up on Sunday, July 27. The catalog includes approximately 1,100 coin and 200 currency lots.

At the top of the highlights list is Lot 384, an impressive 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel FS-016.5 graded MS-64 by PCGS. This important variety is one of the rarest and most eagerly sought in the Buffalo Nickel series of 1913-1938. A major condition rarity, this near-Gem is easily among the finest-known survivors of the variety. Additional highlights of note include Lot 698, a 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar BB-1, B-1, the only known dies, Rarity-4, F-15 by PCGS, a representative of the very first Silver Dollar struck in the fledgling United States Mint and bearing the most significant pedigree marker of a relatively long strike through (as made) on the obverse that begins over Liberty's neck and extends into the field just below the chin. Also notable is Lot 1302, a 1931-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle graded MS-64 by PCGS.

“Bowers and Merena just returned from a very successful June auction in Baltimore where we realized over $6.2 million, and there was already a lot of talk and enthusiasm among attendees to return to Baltimore in July,” said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. “We have a fantastic selection of very special coin and currency lots and we are looking forward to presenting an exceptional rarities auction that serious collectors will really appreciate.”

Additional coin highlights include:

Currency highlights include:

All lots and images in the Bowers and Merena Baltimore Rarities Sale are viewable online at www.bowersandmerena.com, and printed catalogs are available upon request by calling 800.458.4646.
Pre-auction bids are welcome at www.bowersandmerena.com; by e-mail at auction@bowersandmerena.com; by phone at 800.458.4646; by fax at 949.253.4091; and by postal mail addressed to Bowers and Merena, Baltimore Rarities July 2008, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA, 92614. Interested bidders are also encouraged to bid in-person at the live auction on Saturday, July 26, 2008, or live online through the Bowers and Merena website. A complete auction and lot viewing schedule is available at www.bowersandmerena.com or by calling 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 Baltimore Rarities Sale in July, 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.