Whitman News

Consign Your Asian coins and paper money in the next Hong Kong auction: Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio Hong Kong Auction.

Featuring the Wa She Wong Collection, Part III, Frank Robinson Collection, Part II, and duplicates from the American Numismatic Society Museum.

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Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio, the world and ancients auction division of Stack’s Bowers Galleries, realized $2,006,348 as part of the Official Auction of the June 2011 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo, conducted June 17-18. Stack’s Bowers Galleries realized a strong $10,186,912 across eight U.S. and world sessions, continuing its reign as the only official auctioneer of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. The entire sale contained an impressive 7,116 lots, including over 2,000 lots of world and ancient coins and paper money.

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The Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Auction has been in full-swing since Tuesday evening and has sold thousands of U.S. and World coin and paper money lots. The five sessions of U.S. material contained medals and tokens, colonial issues, federal coins from half cents through silver dollars and commemoratives, patterns and gold issues, and U.S. currency.

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The Stack’s Bowers Galleries June 2011 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo Auction will feature 7,107 total lots, including more than 4,100 lots of U.S. coins and exonumia and an additional 680+ lots of U.S. currency, plus over 1,700 lots of world coins and 520+ lots of world paper money. Lot viewing will be conducted by appointment at the firm’s Irvine, California, headquarters May 27-June 1, at the firm’s New York office June 6-June 9, and onsite at the Baltimore Convention Center June 13-18. The auction will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center beginning Tuesday, June 14, concluding Saturday, June 18, and will present four U.S. coin sessions, one U.S. currency session, and three foreign coin and paper money sessions.

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Stack’s Bowers Galleries announced today that Harvey G. Stack and his son Lawrence R. Stack are coming out of retirement to rejoin the firm now known as Stack’s Bowers Galleries, following a two-year hiatus from professional numismatics.

Stack’s Bowers also announced that Harvey Stack, considered to be a numismatic legend, will join with two more titans of the industry, Q. David Bowers, Stack’s Bowers chairman emeritus, and David Hall, president of Collectors Universe, to catalog the ultra high-end Rarities Night Auction, the feature official auction event presented by Stack’s Bowers Galleries at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Chicago this August.

The Presidential Coin & Antique Company's 81st Exonumia Sale features three major consignments: David H. Hirsch's Washingtonia collection, Ron Thompson's inaugural medals, and Estate of Steve Middleton's Columbian Exposition tokens and medals.

In addition to these collections, individual rarities abound. A complete set of official bronze inaugural medals including all four keys – the 1905 Saint-Gaudens Roosevelt; the 1917 Wilson; the 1921 Harding and the 1925 Coolidge.

Other offerings of Presidential items includes such rarities as a pewter rim Harrison log cabin sulphide; large Polk & Dallas campaign token (JP 1844-2); James Buchanan Rebus medal (JB 1856-2); and a Lincoln-Johnson jugate token (AL 1864-1.)

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Stack’s Bowers Galleries realized an impressive $13,892,475 over eight U.S. and world sessions conducted March 29-April 2, 2011, continuing its lengthy tenure as the only official auctioneer of the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Baltimore Expo. The entire auction saw 7,690 lots cross the block, including nearly 4,250 lots of U.S. coins and exonumia and an additional 850+ lots of U.S. currency.

Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio, world and ancients auction division of Stack’s Bowers Galleries, realized $2,304,456 as part of the Official Auction of the March 2011 Whitman Coin and Collectibles Baltimore Expo, conducted March 29-April 2.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries realized an impressive $13,892,475 over eight U.S. and world sessions, continuing its lengthy tenure as the only official auctioneer of the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Baltimore Expo. The entire auction saw 7,690 lots cross the block, including nearly 2,600 world and ancient coin and paper money lots.

Bowers and Merena, one of the world’s preeminent auctioneers for rare coins and currency, saw spirited bidding as the Official Auctioneer of the November 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

Nearly 3,900 lots of rare U.S. coins and currency crossed the auction block in the Nov. 4-6 sale and realized $11.6 million. Ponterio & Associates, Bowers and Merena’s world and ancient coin division, brought over 2,900 lots and added an additional $1.6 million to the sale.

Bowers and Merena, one of the world’s preeminent auctioneers for rare coins and currency, will conduct the official auction of the November 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. Scheduled for November 4-5 at the Baltimore Convention Center, the sale will present more than 3,500 lots of important United States coins and currency.

“We are thrilled to continue our long-standing and successful partnership with the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo,” said Greg Roberts, CEO of Bowers and Merena. “This year’s official auction of the November Expo ranks as one of Bowers and Merena’s most important Baltimore auctions of all time. With more than 3,500 lots, our catalog for U.S. coins and currency offers something for everyone, from collectors and dealers on a strict budget to advanced numismatists seeking the finest-known examples of some of the rarest and most famous coins ever struck in the United States Mint.”

Bowers and Merena will feature the important and extremely rare proof gold coins from the Zürich Collection in the Official auction of the November 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

“We are extremely honored to include the Zürich Collection among the anchor consignments in our upcoming November Baltimore Auction,” stated Bowers and Merena CEO Greg Roberts. “Assembled by a collector who is a connoisseur of rare classic proof gold coinage, the Zürich Collection was assembled over a period of many years. Our consignor spent a lot of time and effort acquiring these coins, passing on many other pieces that did not meet his strict standards for technical quality and eye appeal. The result is a collection replete with stunning examples of both proof Liberty gold coinage and 20th century proof gold rarities, many coins of which are among the finest certified for their respective issues.”

The Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Philadelphia Expo, conducted by Stack's, includes an amazing 5,000+ lots.

Part One may well be the most remarkable paper money auction in some time, with items from the collections of numismatic legends Q. David Bowers, Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. and Chester L. Krause. Not to mention a magnificent group of large-size "type" notes--from the common to the extremely rare--from the Property of a Southern Gentleman.

Part Two focuses on fabulous coins, tokens, medals and more. At the center is an unprecedented Abraham Lincoln Gold Medal Collection from the collection of Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Among his most cherished possessions, the 16 pieces offered in this historic sale include a unique Lincoln Peace Medal, the only known example of its kind.

Click here or the full story on the Stack's Philadelphia Americana Sale.

IRVINE, CA–Bowers and Merena will conduct the Official auction of the June 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. Scheduled for June 16-20, 2010 at the Baltimore Convention Center, the sale will present nearly 3,500 lots of United States coins, exonumia and related items.

According to Bowers and Merena president Steve Deeds: “We have a wonderful sale planned for the June 2010 Baltimore Expo anchored by several important collections and Registry Sets. In the category of Registry Sets we are featuring the Close to Perfect Collection, #1 All-Time Finest Lincoln Memorial Cents Basic Set on the PCGS Registry and the Weston Collection, PCGS Registry Set #8 in the category Capped Bust Half Dollars Major Variety Set without Reeded Edges. The Close to Perfect Collection includes many low-pop condition rarities, including some stellar-quality MS-69s and MS-70s from the 21st century, while the Weston Collection features many original collector coins in VF, EF and AU.”

IRVINE, CA–Ponterio & Associates, Inc., the world and ancients auction division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, will conduct its Baltimore Auction of World and Ancient Coins and Paper Money as part of Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the June 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. The two-session sale will be conducted June 18 and 19 at the Baltimore Convention Center. More than 2,300 lots will be offered, including approximately 1,500 lots of Ancient and foreign coins and 825 lots of world paper money.

Executive vice president, Rick Ponterio states, “Our June 2010 Baltimore Auction is sure to see strong bidder participation—and competition—among specialists in many areas of foreign coins and paper money. Featured among the coin offerings in this sale are important rarities from many periods of history, ranging from Ancient Greece to the modern era.”

IRVINE, CA–Ponterio & Associates, Inc., the world and ancients auction division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, will conduct its Baltimore Auction of World and Ancient Coins and Paper Money as part of Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the June 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. The two-session sale will be conducted June 18 and 19 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

More than 2,300 lots will be offered, including approximately 1,500 lots of Ancient and foreign coins and more than 825 lots of world paper money.

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The Presidential Coin & Antique Company’s 80th Exonumia Sale features a the 1917 Woodrow Wilson Official Presidential Inaugural Medal in gold. Another important offering is the National Institute of Arts and Letters Gold Medal For Eminence in Music to the American composer Aaron Copland.

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U.S. coins and the Q. David Bowers Reference Collection of Confederate States of America bonds highlight the Official Auction for the first-ever Whitman Coin & Collectibles Nashville Expo, May 21, 2010. The Nashville Sale gets underway at 6:30 pm in Meeting Rooms 108 and 109 at the Nashville Convention Center.

Both rarities and more affordable pieces are included in the sale, which begins with Colonials and early Federal coins.

Here are just some of the remarkable offerings. Visit Stacks.com for more information, photos and late-breaking details.

On behalf of Rick Ponterio and myself, we invite you to join us today in the Charles Street VIP Suite for three amazing sessions of World and Ancient coins and international banknotes, presented by Ponterio & Associates.

We start early with Session A for World paper money at 9 a.m. Watch for Lot 6382, a remarkable Iranian 25 Tomans specimen front/back pair. Attributed as P-6s and dating to circa 1890-1923, these notes are Uncirculated and offer tremendous eye appeal as well as undeniable rarity.

Ponterio & Associates, Inc., the world and ancients auction division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, is thrilled to announce a very full auction schedule for 2010, which includes a trip to New York and three visits to Baltimore.

Things get off to an early start for Ponterio & Associates as an Official Auctioneer of the New York International Numismatic Convention, in New York, N.Y., followed by a steady pace presenting world auctions in Baltimore in conjunction with Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo:

Bowers and Merena Auctions, America's premier rare coin and currency auction house, continues to bring success to its consignors as the Official Auctioneer of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

The 6,000+ lot auction conducted November 12-14, 2009 realized more than $8 million, with U.S. coin and currency sales totaling $5.8 million, and Ponterio & Associates netting $2.1 million in world coin and banknote sales.

Today we invite you to join us in the Charles Street VIP Suite for three sessions of live auction excitement. We start early with World Session B at 10 a.m., which will present world paper money, orders and decorations. The session features a lovely selection of Straits Settlements highlighted by Lot 7139, a Pick 12a Fifty Dollar note in an attractive Fine grade. U.S. Session Two begins at 2 p.m. U.S. currency lovers should watch for Lot 2158, a legendary Denver Clark, Gruber & Co. Five Dollar note graded Very Fine, often regarded as the most desirable Obsolete banknote. The U.S. portion of the auction wraps up tonight with U.S. Session Three at 6 p.m. The spotlight will be on Lot 3685, a High Condition Census 1830 BD-1 Half Eagle, a Gem example of a rare and seldom-offered issue that is part of The Dr. Alfred R. Globus Collection. Also of special note is Lot 3871, an extremely rare Mint State 1879-O Double Eagle, Condition Census for this low-mintage, key-date issue. We hope to see you again tomorrow for two more sessions of World coinage. Be sure to stop by the Bowers and Merena lot viewing area located on the bourse floor at Table 1400 to view all lots in the auction.

Here is the schedule for the Official Bowers & Merena Auctions at Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo:

Thursday, November 12

9 a.m.-7 p.m. Auction Lot Viewing Booth 1400
1 p.m. World Auction Session A Charles Street VIP Suite
6 p.m. U.S. Auction Session One Charles Street VIP Suite

Welcome back to beautiful Baltimore! I am very happy to report that Bowers and Merena and Ponterio & Associates have brought more than 6,000 extraordinary U.S. and World coin and currency lots that will cross the auction block this week. We will present seven sessions over Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and I invite you to join us in the Charles Street VIP Suite for live auction excitement.

Starting on Wednesday night, Stack’s Americana Sale, has attracted attention from Whitman Expo attendees as well as worldwide bidders on the Internet and by telephone. As we go to press on Friday afternoon well over $3,000,000 in coins and paper money has changed hands.

More action is to come on Friday night and on Saturday, starting at 10 on Saturday morning. Top honors so far go to the 1906 Indian cent struck in gold, creating a bidding war and crossing the auction block at an amazing $276,000—breaking every record in the book for a mint error. Obsolete paper money from the Chet Krause Collection set records left and right, totaling over $600,000 for this section of the catalog.

Friday evening opened with numismatic fanfare as Stack's Session 4 of The Philadelphia Americana Sale begin to cross the block. On hand were collectors, dealers and investors from all across North America. There were also eager bidders on the Internet plus so many phone bidders that extra telephones had to be brought into the auction room.

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When the hammer fell at last night’s Session Three of the Official Auction by Stack’s on Lot 4299 at the Whitman Philadelphia Expo, a 1906 1C Indian Cent, struck in gold had fetched a remarkable $276,000. Plated in the “Significant U.S. Mint Errors” section of the current edition of The Red Book, it was the cover coin for the June 2004 issue of Longacre’s Ledger.

The origins of these gold Indian Cents are lost to history, but they are clearly made from Federal U.S. dies and struck on what are most likely quarter eagle planchets. These breath-taking off-metal coins are, in all probability, pieces de caprice, made specially for collectors at the beginning of the 20th Century. Graded AU-58 (NGC), this beautiful coin has olive gold fields that join yellow gold luster and coppery highlights in the protected areas. It’s further evidence, as if any was needed, that The Philadelphia Americana Sale is one of historical proportions.

And, there’s more to come. Check the schedule on this page for the remaining sessions and be there as more history is made.

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions presented the Official Pre-show Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Philadelphia Expo on September 22, 2009. The two-session auction realized $2,520,460.

The Bowers and Merena team welcomes you to beautiful and historic Philadelphia! We were thrilled for this opportunity to be the Official Pre-show Auctioneer of the first ever Whitman Expo in Philadelphia, and we appreciate everyone who participated in our auction on Tuesday.

With more than 1,500 lots on the block, a highpoint of the day came early with lot 15, an Undated (circa 1659) Lord Baltimore Shilling graded MS-61 by PCGS, the Eliasberg Specimen, which realized an impressive $57,500. A definite highlight of the extensive Colonial-era coinage that we offered in the sale, this Lord Baltimore Shilling may very well be the finest-known example of the type.

Bowers and Merena Auctions will bring nearly 1,500 lots of fine coins to Philadelphia, Pa.., for the Official Pre-show Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Philadelphia Expo set for September 24-26, 2009. The auction will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and begins with lot viewing Monday, September 21, and Tuesday, September 22, followed by the two-session auction on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. EDT.

“Bowers and Merena has had the privilege for many years to present the Official Baltimore Auction with Whitman, so we are very pleased for this opportunity to work with them in Philadelphia as the Official Pre-show Auctioneer,” said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. “Whitman produces excellent coin shows. And Philadelphia is rich in history and tradition, really two of the cornerstones of numismatics.”

This 20 Shilling Note from 1690 was among the first American currency, drawn by hand almost a century before the birth of the United States of America and nearly 200 years before the first "greenbacks" were printed. You can see this amazing piece of American history (and even bid on it at the Stack's auction), as well as other numismatic treasures at the first-ever Whitman Coin & Collectibles Philadelphia Expo, September 24-26, 2009 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Meet and have your picture taken with Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by the remarkable Dennis Boggs, as well as actors from the American Historical Theatre appearing as Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Abigail Adams. So, come buy, sell, or trade. Or, simply marvel at coins, currency and collectibles worth millions. And here's the best news: you won't have to part with a single buck--it's FREE.

Register today to ensure you’re in Philly when history is made. Click here for FREE online registration to the Expo.

Bowers and Merena Auctions returned to Baltimore for the second time in 2009 to present the Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo, June 10-13.  The auction of the nearly 2,500 lots realized a total of $4,225,995 over three live sessions, plus the inaugural online session of the official Baltimore auction.

The standout highlight of the auction was lot 757, an 1876-CC Twenty-Cent Piece in PCGS AU-58 with a fascinating history, which realized $207,000. Believed to be one of perhaps just 12 to 20 examples known, this specimen was acquired in Virginia City, Nev., by Gold Rush “Forty-Niner” John Seagraves Pick and has been kept in the Pick/Jurgensen family for the last 133 years. As a PCGS AU-58, this important piece is the only circulated 1876-CC Twenty-Cent piece known to PCGS and NGC. It was also previously certified AU-58 by ANACS from a submission that dates to the early 1990s.

IRVINE, Calif. – Bowers and Merena Auctions makes its first trip to Baltimore in 2009 for the Official Auction of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention set for March 24-28. The auction will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center and begins with lot viewing Tuesday, March 24, to Friday, March 27, followed by the three-session auction on Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m. EDT, and Friday, March 27, at noon and again at 6 p.m. EDT.

When the gavel fell on this remarkable coin, the price stood at $402,500.  It was just one lot of many in the Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo held on November 18-22, 2008 and conducted by  Bowers and Merena Auctions. Here’s their report on this exciting auction:

The undisputed highlight of the auction was an exciting new discovery coin, lot 1143, an exceedingly rare 1795 S-79 Reeded Edge Liberty Cap Cent, one of just six pieces known to exist and the only example certified by PCGS or NGC. This 1795 S-79, Rarity-7+, Reeded Edge, graded Good-4 by PCGS and mounted in a special PCGS holder that allows easy viewing of the edge, was the subject of very lively floor bidding that brought it to the impressive realized price of $402,500. “The sale of this lot was really one of my favorite auction moments of the year,” said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. “We opened bidding at $70,000 and the floor just took off. It stalled a bit at about $180,000, and then just kept going, and finished with the room erupting in applause – it really was exciting to be there and watch it happen. Everyone involved, including the buyer and consignor, are very pleased with the result, and this is a coin that won’t soon be forgotten.”