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.”

Top honors also go to lot 1704, a 1920-D Buffalo Nickel graded MS-67* by NGC that realized $138,000, from the Yankee Collection of Buffalo Nickels. NGC Census shows a population of just two with none finer either with or without a * designation, and PCGS has yet to certify a single example higher than MS-66. Also noteworthy is lot 1137, a 1793 Wreath Cent, S-8, Rarity-3- with Vine and Bars Edge graded MS-63 BN by PCGS, and also possessing the CAC designation, which realized an extraordinary $115,000.

Additional coin and currency highlights include:

• Lot 1143 1795 Liberty Cap Cent. S-79. Rarity-7+. Reeded Edge. G-4 (PCGS). $402,500
• Lot 1704 1920-D Buffalo Nickel. MS-67 * (NGC). $138,000
• Lot 1137 1793 Wreath Cent. S-8. Rarity-3-. Vine and Bars Edge. MS-63 BN (PCGS). CAC. $115,000
• Lot 2016 1841 Seated Liberty Quarter. Briggs 4-B. Proof-61 (PCGS). $92,000
• Lot 4641 1907 Indian Eagle. Judd-1774/1901, Pollock-1995. Rarity-3. Wire Rim. MS-65 (NGC). $68,005
• Lot 2092 1919-D Standing Liberty Quarter. MS-66 FH (PCGS). $57,500
• Lot 4234 A Complete Set of 1997-W through 2007-W Platinum Eagles. Proof-70 Deep Cameo (PCGS). $52,325
• Lot 2442 1920-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-66 (PCGS). $50,600
• Lot 2441 1920-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-66 (PCGS). $48,300
• Lot 6024 Scotland. George III (1760-1820). Glasgow, Lanarkshire. WG & Co. 4 Shillings, 9 Pence $40,250
• Counterstamp on a U.S. 1795 Flowing Hair, Two Leaves Silver Dollar. Counterstamp
• Undated (1820-1821).
• Lot 1167 1856 Braided Hair Cent. N-5. Rarity-5-. Slanted 5. Proof-66 RB (PCGS). CAC. OGH. $37950
• Lot 2438 1919 Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-67 (PCGS). $32,200
• Lot 1717 1924-S Buffalo Nickel. MS-66 * (NGC). $31,050
• Lot 3044 1925-S Peace Silver Dollar. MS-65 (PCGS). OGH. $29,900
• Lot 5466 Fr. 1199. 1913 $50 Gold Certificate. PCGS Gem New 65PPQ. $28,175
• Lot 5976 Japan. Tokugawa Iyemochi Shogunate (1858-1866). Gold and Silver Oban. Undated $26,450
• (Manen Era, 1860-1861). Machine-Made Horizontal Crenulations.
• Lot 1978 1942/1-D Mercury Dime. FS-101 (FS-010.8). MS-65 FB (PCGS). $25,875
• Lot 5666 Tombstone, AZ. $10 1902 Plain Back. Fr. 628. The FNB. Charter #6439. Fine. $25,875
• Lot 1711 1923-S Buffalo Nickel. MS-66 * (NGC). $25,300
• Lot 1740 1927-D Buffalo Nickel. MS-66 (NGC). $23,000
• Lot 2528 1942 Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-68 (PCGS). OGH. $23,000
• Lot 4314 1827 Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle. BD-1, HBCC-3025, the only known dies. $23,000
• Rarity-5. AU-58 (NGC).
• Lot 5388 Fr. 824. 1915 $20 Federal Reserve Bank Note. PCGS Gem New 65PPQ. $22,425
• Lot 4711 1863 Liberty Double Eagle. MS-61 (NGC). $21,850
• Lot 1146 1796 Draped Bust Cent. S-119. Rarity-3. Reverse of 1797. MS-63 BN (PCGS). $21,275
• Lot 2444 1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-65 (PCGS). $21,275
• Lot 4457 1802/1 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. BD-4, HBCC-missing, Miller-49. Rarity-7. MS-62 (PCGS). $20,700

Bowers and Merena will continue their longstanding association with the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo into 2009 and beyond with three more official Baltimore auctions in 2009.