Bowers and Merena to Offer Important Rarities in March Baltimore Auction

Bowers and Merena Auctions, America's leading rare coin and currency auction house, will conduct the Official Auction of the March 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. Scheduled for March 2-6, 2010 at the Baltimore Convention Center, the sale will present over 3,300 lots of important United States coins and currency. Ponterio & Associates, division of Bowers and Merena, will present more than 2,400 lots of world and ancient coins and currency.

"We have an impressive selection of rare U.S. coins and notes set for auction at the upcoming March 2010 Baltimore Expo," stated Bowers and Merena president Steve Deeds. "Anchoring the sale is a trio of extremely important coins, all of which have been off the market for decades."

Continued Deeds: "The first of these three coins is a spectacular example of the key-date 1901-S Barber Quarter that grades MS68 at PCGS. It is the only MS68 certified at PCGS and NGC – none are finer – and the coin is completely original with full luster and pretty peripheral toning. We expect this piece to see spirited bidder competition at auction."

"Also part of the same consignment with the 1901-S Barber Quarter," confirmed Deeds, "is an extremely rare branch mint proof 1879-O Morgan Silver Dollar certified PR64 in a first-generation PCGS holder, as well as a phenomenal 1915-S Panama-Pacific $50 Round in PCGS MS66. The Pan-Pac $50 Round is particularly noteworthy as the single-finest example certified at PCGS (Pop: 1/0), while the 1879-O Morgan Dollar is also among the finest known for this extremely rare branch mint proof issue. Both of these coins are completely original and highly attractive."

Concluded Deeds: "The Julianna Rose Collection of Fugio Coppers is also set to cross the auction block in our March 2010 Baltimore Auction. Comprised primarily of nine coins, this collection is ranked No. 3 on the All-Time Finest and No. 2 on the Current Finest PCGS Set Registry in the category of Fugio Cents with major Varieties. A highlight of this collection is the Eliasberg specimen of the 1787 New Haven Restrike struck in silver. The coin is certified MS62 by PCGS and is one of perhaps just 50 examples struck in this precious metal."

Additional highlights in the Bowers and Merena March 2010 Baltimore Auction include:

• 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent, MS66 Red (PCGS)
• 1859-D Liberty Quarter Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS)
• 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, Small Eagle, MS62 (PCGS)
• 1846-D/D Liberty Half Eagle, MS64 (PCGS)
• 1856-D Liberty Half Eagle, MS64 (PCGS)
• 1859-C Liberty Half Eagle, MS63 (PCGS)
• 1797 Capped Bust Right Eagle, Large Eagle, AU50 (PCGS)
• 1903 Louisiana Purchase Gold Dollar/Jefferson Portrait, PR66 Cameo (PCGS)

All lot descriptions and images in the March 2010 Baltimore Auction can be viewed online at the Bowers and Merena website, www.bowersandmerena.com. Printed catalogs are available upon request by calling 800.458.4646. Bidding is open and pre-auction bids are welcome at www.bowersandmerena.com; by e-mail at [email protected]; by phone at 800.458.4646; by fax at 949.253.4091; and by postal mail addressed to Bowers and Merena, Baltimore March 2010, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA, 92614. Interested bidders are also encouraged to view lots onsite in Baltimore March 2-6, 2010 and bid in-person at the live auction, 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. 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's March 2010 Baltimore Auction, 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.