Consign Alongside this Important Collection by August 31, 2010
IRVINE, Calif. – Ponterio & Associates, Inc., the world and ancients auction division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, is pleased to present the Wa She Wong Collection of Chinese and Hong Kong coins, an anchor consignment of their December auction to be held at the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers on December 3 and 4, 2010. It will be one of the most important auctions of Chinese coins ever held.
The collection is a masterly gathered assortment of rare coins of China and Hong Kong by Wa She Wong. Born in 1927 in Canton, China, Wa She Wong owned three stamp and coin stores in Hong Kong during the 1980s, including Honest Stamps and Coins in Causeway Bay. Wong collected the majority of his collection while operating these stores. Since Wong passed away in 2000, the collection has been securely stored in a bank vault in Hong Kong.
“It is not often a collection of this magnitude comes on the market,” said Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena. “I am extremely proud to have been entrusted with its sale as it is one of the most memorable collections I have had the pleasure of preparing for auction.”
This fine collection features coins that have rarely appeared on the public market and others that are missing from most major collections. Some highlights of the auction include:
· Kwangtung Specimen set, 1890 (5 coins). K-21/25. ($1, 50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢)
· Shensi Specimen Set, 1898 (4 coins). K-53, 54, 56 & 57 (50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢)
· Kiangnan. Pattern dollar, 1897. Plain edge Proof. K-66.
· Kwangtung Specimen set, 1890 (5 coins). K-16/20. ($1, 50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢)
· Pattern dollar, 1911. L&M-29. (Ex: Kann Collection)
All major rarities are currently being certified by Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC), the market leader in grading Chinese coins. All coins graded by NGC from the Wa She Wong Collection will be pedigreed as “Wa She Wong” on the individual holders.
Featured highlights will be on view at the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo June 17-19, and also at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Boston held August 10-14.
The deluxe catalog is prepared in English and Chinese for the convenience of international clients and available for $20 in the United State and $35 outside of the United States. Orders can be made by contacting a representative at 800.458.4646 from inside the United States or +1.949.253.0916 internationally, or via email at info@bowersandmerena.com.
Ponterio & Associates invites consignments of Asian coins and banknotes to be sold alongside the Wa She Wong Collection. The consignment deadline is August 31, 2010. Contact Richard Ponterio at 800.458.4646 (U.S.) or +1.949.253.0916 (international) and via email at rponterio@bowersandmerena.com.
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 paper 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 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo 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.