Irvine, CA—Bowers and Merena Auctions will conduct the Official Auction of the March 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. Scheduled for March 2-6 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 MS-68 at PCGS. It is the only MS-68 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 Proof-64 in a first-generation PCGS holder, as well as a phenomenal 1915-S Panama-Pacific $50 Round in PCGS MS-66. 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."

“We are also proud to present two named collections in our upcoming March 2010 Baltimore Auction,” said Deeds. “The Cuyahoga Collection of Charlotte and Dahlonega Mint Gold features many high-Condition Census rarities from these important and widely collected Southern gold series. The collection is ranked No. 2 on the NGC Set Registry in the category of Charlotte Mint Gold Complete and No. 1 in the category of Dahlonega Mint Gold Complete. Many of the coins in the Cuyahoga Collection are pedigreed to some of the other famous Southern gold collections assembled in recent decades, including the Elrod, Dingler and Ashland City collections. Stand-out rarities in the Cuyahoga Collection are an 1842-C Small Date Half Eagle in NGC/CAC MS-63, an 1849-C Quarter Eagle in NGC MS-65 and an 1854-D Quarter Eagle graded MS-63 by PCGS.”

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 tenth example is included that grades NGC MS-62 Brown, and the set is also listed on the NGC Registry where it is ranked No. 1 in the Fugio Cent category. The NGC Registry has honored the Julianna Rose Collection as the best set in its category every year from 2005-2009. A highlight of this collection is the Eliasberg specimen of the 1787 New Haven Restrike struck in silver. The coin is certified MS-62 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, MS-66 Red (PCGS)
• 1914-S Buffalo Nickel, MS-67 (NGC)
• 1841-D Liberty Quarter Eagle, MS-63 (NGC)
• 1845-D Liberty Quarter Eagle, MS-64 (NGC), CAC
• 1859-D Liberty Quarter Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS)
• 1911-D Indian Quarter Eagle, MS-63 (NGC)
• 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, Small Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS)
• 1839-C Liberty Half Eagle, MS-63 (NGC)
• 1842-C Liberty Half Eagle, Large Date, MS-64 (NGC)
• 1846-D/D Liberty Half Eagle, MS-64 (PCGS)
• 1848-C Liberty Half Eagle, MS-64 (NGC)
• 1856-D Liberty Half Eagle, MS-64 (PCGS)
• 1859-C Liberty Half Eagle,