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.

We begin this afternoon (Thursday, November 12, 2009) with World Session A at 1 p.m., the first of two sessions that will present more than 1,250 lots of World Paper Money, including more notes from the popular East Bay Collection. Watch for impressive notes from Iran and the British Commonwealth, to name just two.

U.S. Session One starts tonight at 6 p.m. and will present Numismatic Americana, Colonials, Half Cents, Large Cents, Small Cents, Two-Cent Pieces, Silver Three-Cent Pieces, Nickel Three-Cent Pieces, Nickel Five-Cent Pieces, Half Dimes, Dimes, Twenty-Cent Pieces, Quarter Dollars, and Half Dollars. Of special note is Lot 411, a lovely Gem Proof 1867 Rays Shield Nickel in PCGS Proof-65, population of just 17 with a mere three finer. And this is just the beginning!

Look forward to more impressive rarities to come, and remember to visit the Bowers and Merena lot viewing area located on the bourse floor at Table 1400.