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 Currency as part of Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the March 2010 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. Slated for March 2-6, 2010, at the Baltimore Convention Center, the Ponterio & Associates auction will feature more than 2,400 lots of important world and ancient coins and banknotes.

“We have an excellent auction prepared for the March Baltimore Expo,” stated Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena Auctions.

“One of the most important highlights in this sale is an extremely rare 1876-A Greek 50 Drachmai from a mintage of only 182 coins. Attributed as Fr-15 and KM-50, and certified AU-58 by NGC, we anticipate this coin to see spirited bidder competition when it crosses the auction block in Baltimore.”

Continued Ponterio: “Also of note for bidders is our offering of a rare Danish 2 Speciedaler that dates to the reign of Frederick III (1648-1670). That coin is certified NGC AU-55 and is attributed as Sieg-81, H-81, Dav-3564 and KM-311. And for collectors of Mexican coinage we are equally pleased to be offering a rare one-year type in the 1823-JM 8 Escudos. An example of the “Hookneck” variety, this piece is certified AU-50 by NGC and attributed as Fr-63, KM-382.1 and HO-type-1.”

Additional highlights of the Ponterio & Associates March 2010 Baltimore Auction include:

• Bolivia, 8 Reales “Royal Presentation Strike,” 1652-E, KM-R-A20.4, Laz-120, McLean-type-IV A, VF
• Great Britain, 1/3 Guinea, 1776, KM-Pn55, W&R-127, NGC Proof-63
• Mexico, 8 Escudos, 1733-F, Fr-8, KM-148, NGC EF-45
• Sweden, 2 Ducats, 1837-CB, Fr-86, Sieg-35, KM-629, NGC MS-61
• Switzerland, Basel, 2 Taler, 1741, Dav-1749, KM-150, NGC AU-55
• Switzerland, Solothurn, 2 Duplone, 1797, Fr-390, KM-61, NGC MS-65
• Switzerland, 100 Francs, 1925-B, Fr-502, KM-39, PCGS MS-64