Bowers and Merena Auctions to Host Boston Rarities Auction: All Lots Available for Viewing at the PCGS Members Only Show

Bowers and Merena Auctions, one of the world's pre-eminent numismatic auctioneers, will host its Boston Rarities Auction on Saturday, Aug. 7 at The Castle at Park Plaza Hotel and Towers in Boston, Mass. The sale, comprised of nearly 1,800 lots, will feature world-class rarities and highly desirable collectors' coins.

"Along with the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation Mint State Set of 1794 United States Coinage, Bowers and Merena is pleased to offer several rarities, including the Horseshoe Collection of New Orleans Mint gold and silver coins and the Ostheimer Specimen of the 1870-S Seated Liberty Silver Dollar, as well as key highly ranked PCGS Registry sets," said Greg Roberts, CEO of Bowers and Merena Auctions. "With selections as diverse, important and desirable as these, we are confident that our Boston Rarities Sale will see spirited bidding from a wide variety of collectors."

At the heart of the Horseshoe Collection is one of the most comprehensive sets of New Orleans Mint gold and silver coins that Bowers and Merena has offered in quite some time. The stand-out highlight of the collection is an 1854-O Liberty Double Eagle, a pop 2/0 coin certified AU55 by PCGS. With an estimated 25-35 surviving coin population from a mintage of 3,250 pieces, it is the second-rarest New Orleans Mint Double Eagle. Other rarities featured in this collection include Morgan Dollar condition rarities, key-date 19th century gold coins from other Mints and a J.W. Scott Restrike of the fabled 1861 Confederate States of America Half Dollar.

"Another exceptional offering is the Ostheimer Specimen of the 1870-S Seated Liberty Silver Dollar," said Roberts. "This coin is the fourth-finest example of only nine 1870-S Silver Dollars in existence. As such, it is an extremely important example of the rarest regular issue Silver Dollar struck in the United States Mint. The Ostheimer Specimen is certified EF40 by PCGS."

Key PCGS Registry sets include the Platinum Star PCGS Registry Set of Two-Cent Pieces and Marmac's Little Sisters Collection of Half Cents. The Platinum Start PCGS Registry Set of Two-Cent Pieces is a collection that is comprised of two Registry Sets of proof and business strike coins, each of which is ranked #2 on the current Registry within its respective category. Marmac's Little Sisters Collection of Half Cents features, among other important coins, a PCGS Registry set that is ranked #5 on the current Registry in the category 'Half Cents Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1793-1857).' Other PCGS highlights include:

• 1776 Continental Dollar, Currency Pewter, MS-63 (PCGS), Secure Holder
• 1864 Two-Cent Piece, Small Motto, Proof-65 RD Cameo (PCGS), Secure Holder, CAC, From the Platinum Star PCGS Registry Set of Two-Cent Pieces
• 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dollar, O-106, AU58 (PCGS), CAC
• 1801 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, BB-212, B-2, MS63 (PCGS), Secure Holder, Ex: Jack Lee III-Hesselgesser
• 1860 Pattern Half Eagle, Judd-271, Proof62 Cameo (PCGS)
• 1896 Liberty Double Eagle, Proof66 Deep Cameo (PCGS), Secure Holder
• 1921 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, MS62 (PCGS)

The entire collection will be available for viewing at the PCGS Member's Only Show at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino from Wednesday, July 21 to Friday, July 23. For a complete list of coins that will be featured at the August 2010 Boston Rarities Auction, visit the firm's Web site at www.bowersandmerena.com or call toll-free at 800-458-4646.

Bowers and Merena Auctions was founded in 1983 and has grown to become one of the world's preeminent numismatic auctioneers with more than half a billion dollars in rare coin and currency sales. They continue their service as Official Auctioneer of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expos three times every year. 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. In 2008, Bowers and Merena Auctions acquired Ponterio & Associates, Inc., which now serves as Bowers and Merena's auction division for world and ancient coins and currency. Bowers and Merena Rare Coin Galleries offers direct buying and selling of exceptional quality gold and silver rare coins.

For more information about Bowers and Merena and Ponterio & Associates, or to consign to an upcoming auction, call 800-458-4646. For media inquiries, ask for President Steve Deeds or Executive Vice President Rick Ponterio. Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.