Russian, Annam and Argentine Sun Face Coinage Loom Large Among Highlights
IRVINE, Calif. – Ponterio & Associates, Inc., the world and ancients auction division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, will commence its 2010 auction schedule as an Official Auctioneer of the New York International Numismatic Convention (N.Y.I.N.C.). The auction will be conducted January 8-9, 2010, in New York’s prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Pre-sale lot viewing will take place in the same location beginning January 6, with additional lot viewing opportunities available at the Bowers and Merena world headquarters in Irvine, California, December 21-31, 2009 (by appointment only; closed December 24-27).
“Our 2010 N.Y.I.N.C. Auction will feature more than 2,300 lots of ancient coins, world coins, paper money, and orders and decorations,” stated Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena and founder of Ponterio & Associates. “Leading the way among important consignments is the second installment of the Chester Skotak Collection of Central American Coinage. We sold the first part of this fabulous collection through our Official November 2009 Baltimore Auction, and we anticipate equally impressive results when the second portion of Mr. Skotak’s holdings comes up for auction at the N.Y.I.N.C. We also have significant consignments of Russian and Annamese coinage, as well as a noteworthy array of Argentine Sun Face Coinage.”
Continued Ponterio: “One of the most prominent coins in our upcoming N.Y.I.N.C. Auction is a 1902 Russian 37 ½ Rubles—the Prize of Russian Numismatics. Attributed alternately as Fr-170, Y-B65, Bitkin-309 and Sev-578, this is a very rare type with a mintage of only 225 pieces. A special issue that was used by the Czar for gifts on special occasions, this is the largest Russian gold coin struck in the modern era. We grade the piece attractive AU and are offering it as lot 7389.”
“Also of note in this sale is lot 7006, a very rare Annam 3 Tien gold piece that dates to the reign of Emperor Thieu Tri (1841-48),” observed Ponterio. “It is an example of a very rare type that grades AU and is attributed as Fr-18, KM-338 and Schr-286. And we also expect lot 7139 to generate considerable bidder interest. This is a very rare 1826 Great Britain 5 Pounds with a mintage of just 150 pieces. An original, unimpaired piece, this British gold coin has been certified Proof-63 Deep Cameo by PCGS.”
Additional highlights include:
• Lot 5916, Zeugitania, Carthage, First Punic War, AV Trihemistater or 1 ½ Shekel, ca. 264-250 B.C., Jenkins & Lewis-group IX Pl.17 #381(same dies), Muller-Pg.86#66, Choice EF
• Lot 7007, Argentina, 8 Escudos, 1830-P, Fr-2, KM-21, CJ-F15, AU-53 (PCGS)
• Lot 7088, Denmark, Ducat, 1682, Fr-148, Sieg-89, H-11, KM-372, MS-62 (PCGS)
• Lot 7134, Great Britain, Broad of 20 Shillings, 1656, Fr-273, S-3225, KM-Pn25, AU-55 (NGC)
• Lot 7179, Honduras, 10 Pesos, 1883, Fr-5, KM-58, EF Details—Polished (NGC)
• Lot 7296, Mexico, Iturbide, Gold Medal, 1821, Gove-5 (Unlisted in Gold), AU-55 (NGC)
• Lot 7316, Peru, 8 Escudos, 1710-H, Fr-7, KM-38.2, Choice EF
• Lot 7326, Philippines, 8 Escudos ND (1834-1837), Fr-A3, KM-141.1, La Onza-1370 (previously 1510), AU-55 (NGC)
• Lot 7332, Romania, 20 Lei, 1868, Fr-1, KM-5, AU Details—Reverse Scratched (NGC)
• Lot 7356, Russia, Platinum 6 Rubles, 1830, Fr-159, C-178, Bitkin-56, Sev-599, MS-64 (NGC)
• Lot 7438, United States, 10 Dollars, 1797 Large Eagle, Fr-153, KM-30, AU
• Lot 7561, China, Dollar, ND (1907), L&M-20, K-212, MS-63 (NGC)
• Lot 8046, Norway, Speciedaler, 1655-FG, Dav-3595, KM-48 AU-53 (PCGS)
All lot descriptions and images in the January 2010 N.Y.I.N.C. Auction can be viewed online at the Bowers and Merena website, www.bowersandmerena.com beginning December 15. Printed catalogs are available upon request by calling 800.458.4646. Bidding is open and pre-auction bids are welcome at www.bowersandmerena.com; by e-mail at auction@bowersandmerena.com; by phone at 800.458.4646; by fax at 949.253.4091; and by postal mail addressed to Ponterio & Associates, N.Y.I.N.C. January 2010, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA, 92614. Interested bidders are also encouraged to view lots onsite in New York January 6-9, 2010, and bid in-person at the live auction, or live online through the Bowers and Merena website. A complete auction and lot viewing schedule is available at www.bowersandmerena.com or by calling 800.458.4646.
Ponterio & Associates, Inc., was founded in 1982 by Richard Ponterio, renowned specialist in world and ancient numismatics. The company was acquired by Bowers and Merena Auctions in 2008, creating an auction powerhouse that covers the collecting interests of U.S. and international coin and currency enthusiasts. Ponterio & Associates auctions have included such notable coin collections as the John S. Davenport Collection, the Witte Museum Collection, the Amat Collection, the Joe Lasser Collection, and the James Hunnicut Collection. Distinguished paper money collections include the East Bay Collection of International Bank Notes, and the Eduard Kann Chinese Bank Note Collection. Ponterio & Associates has also presented treasure collections from the shipwrecks “Nicobar,” “Rooswijk,” and “Capitana.”
Bowers and Merena Auctions was founded in 1983 and has grown to become the world's preeminent numismatic auctioneer with more than half a billion dollars in rare coin and currency sales. They continue to serve as Official Auctioneer of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Conventions three times every year. Bowers and Merena has handled four of the five most valuable United States coin collections ever sold, including the Louis E. Eliasberg Sr. Collection, the Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection, the Garrett Collection for The Johns Hopkins University, and the Norweb Collection. Bowers and Merena Rare Coin Galleries offers direct buying and selling of exceptional quality gold and silver rare coins.
For more information about Ponterio & Associates’ January 2010 N.Y.I.N.C. Auction, call 800.458.4646. For media inquiries, ask for executive vice president Rick Ponterio. Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.