Bowers and Merena Galleries is pleased to present the American Numismatic Association’s official auction to be held in conjunction with this year’s annual ANA convention. Over the years we have conducted a number of auctions for the American Numismatic Association, including on two very special occasions: the 1891-1991 ANA Centennial Sale and the present Millennium Sale for the year 2000. The entire Bowers and Merena organization thanks the Association itself as well as its president, Bob Campbell, its executive director, Edward Rochette, and the Board of Governors including Helen Carmody-Lebo, Thomas Hallenbeck, Alan Herbert, Patricia A. Finner, Kay Edgerton Lenker, Gary E. Lewis, Anthony Swiatek, and John Wilson for this opportunity.

The Franklin Institute is the lead consignor to the sale. What a splendid honor it is to showcase coins, tokens, and paper money given to us by one of Philadelphia’s greatest institutions and one of America’s most respected repositories of knowledge.

Douglas L. Noblet, a major consignor to the sale, has given us one of America’s rarest silver coins, the 1838-O half dollar purchased by him among many other rarities. Doug Noblet is familiar to the wide circle of our friends, as he was a prime consignor of other coins to our Rarities Sale in January 1999. A true gentleman in every sense of the word, and a connoisseur of coins, Doug has been a prince in the field of numismatics for years.

Robert Clark, copper cent specialist extraordinaire, has consigned many choice, rare, and interesting early issues to the sale, the result of many years of careful collecting. His splendid issues of 1793 and 1794 are a joy to behold.

Frank Wallis, who a few months ago was not a numismatist at all, will be recorded as one of the prime names in the hobby for the year 2000. It was he who discovered the first double-denomination coin combining the obverse of a Washington quarter dollar and the reverse of a Sacagawea dollar. In recent times the pages of Coin World and Numismatic News—indeed newspapers all over the country—have been splashed with stories about this coin.

American colonial coins from a Somers Island shilling through copper issues of the 1780s and Washington issues; half cents highlighted by the classic 1796; an exceedingly impressive offering of 1793, 1794 and other copper cents; small cents from the 1856 Flying Eagle onward, including the 1877 Indian, and Lincoln cents of 1909-S V.D.B., 1914-D, 1955 Double Die, and others; two-cent pieces, and nickel three-cent pieces will attract much attention. Silver three-cent pieces feature many seldom-seen rarities and gems; half dimes range from the 1790s onward; dimes are choice and rare and including beautiful early issues, high-grade Barber pieces, and rare Mercury varieties; followed by twenty-cent pieces, then quarter dollars from the early years through the Washington series. Half dollars are, in a word, outstanding, and along with other silver denominations include some of the nicest Proof Liberty Seated and Barber dimes to cross the block in a long time. Liberty Walking halves include Mint State early issues. Silver dollars include many early Flowing Hair and Draped Bust issues; rare Gobrecht issues of 1836 and 1838; Liberty Seated scarcities and rarities; and one of the most comprehensive presentations of Morgan and Peace dollars to appear in any of our sales—check out the multiple Proofs of 1895, for example! Trade dollars include interesting Proofs and a historical group of 1873 issues.

Gold coins are incredible. Gold dollars from 1849 onward are replete with choice and gem pieces; quarter eagles are likewise outstanding; and there are many elusive $3 pieces. Flowing Hair and Coiled Hair $4 gold stellas will entice the advanced buyer. Half eagles from 1795 onward and eagles include rare dates, Proofs, type coins, and more. Likewise, double eagles comprise many dates and mintmarks including Mint State and Proof specimens. Territorial and private gold ranges from Bechtler issues of the 1830s to Clark, Gruber pieces of the 1860s, and in between includes many choice and rare California coins, both 1849 Oregon denominations, and more. Patterns are rich with many key coins including the famous 1868 copper large cent. Commemoratives include just about everything from the classic era, with multiple specimens of the large and very impressive 1915-S $50 gold.

Currency in our sale includes a collection of the famous 1861 Montgomery notes issued by the Confederacy, obsolete issues from many locales, and a nice selection of federal paper. Tokens and medals include a run of Indian peace medals with interesting motifs; incredible Lesher dollars among which is a newly discovered unique imprint; and other notable items.

World coins emphasize silver and gold issues and include many important issues. Canadian coins come to the fore and are especially rich in key 20th century issues; British pieces range from the curious Queen Anne farthing to the ever-popular 1847 Gothic crown, to coins of other denominations and eras. Crowns from Europe, gold coins from Spanish-American mints, and other delicacies await your consideration.

Bidding online begins July 28th through August 7th ending at 7pm PST. Click here to place your bids now. The live floor auction will begin in Philadelphia on August 9th ending August 12th.

Catalogue Offer: A superbly illustrated Grand Format^TM catalogue of over 400 pages is now available. We invite you to order a copy for $40, or your best value for $145 purchase a full subscription to all Bowers and Merena periodicals, which if bought separately cost over $300. Call toll-free and charge to your credit card: 1-800-222-5993, extension 31.