One of the many highlights among the over 1,300 lots of desirable and appealing world coins is a Japanese undated (1860 – 1862) Manen oban (10 Ryo, 112.26 gms) with security edge (Fr. 7; JNDA-09-11; C24a2) in Extremely Fine condition.

“This is a beautiful specimen,” said Richard Ponterio, executive vice president of Bowers and Merena. “This Manen oban is the only type that was produced using machinery. Prior to this type obans were hand made. The use of obans halted shortly after the time of Commandore Perry forcing Japan to open its trade with the west in the mid 1800s.” (www.BowersandMerena.com).

Two other marquee coins in the ANA auction are a rare Year 3 (1911) “Long Whisker Dragon” Tientsin Mint China Pattern Dollar (L&M-28; Kann-223; KM-Pn-304), graded NGC AU-58, and a Macedonia Mende silver Tetradrachm (16.88 gms) ca. 425 B.C.

“This was struck from the same dies as described in the Noe-ANS Monogram #27 of 1926, “The Mende (Kaliandra) Hoard #70. It has a well struck reverse and nice metal quality with full border on the obverse. It depicts Dionysos ‘Bacchus’ the god of wine and grapes holding a cup of wine while reclining on a donkey,” explained Ponterio. (more…)

“The format of the auctions is quite simple,” said Cristiano Bierrenbach, Director of International Sales at Heritage. “They will stay up for four weeks, will have an average of 500-600 certified lots, all unreserved and all starting at $1.”

As the undisputed industry leader in World Coins, Heritage is starting its monthly world coin Internet auctions as both a compliment to its weekly U.S. Rare Coin Internet-only auctions as well as to serve the world coin collecting audience devoted to coins that fall in the price range below that of most of the company’s more high profile auctions.

“There’s a consistent and committed audience for world coins that is only looking to spend anywhere from $30 to $300 and up,” said Bierrenbach. “We heard the demands of collectors and now present to them our monthly world coin Internet-only auctions.”

Buyers of rare world coins will now have a reason to visit the Heritage world coins auction home page more than just during the company’s Signature auction offerings. With a monthly selection of rare world coins – featuring the variety and pricing that Heritage is known for – collectors will have a reason to check in with Heritage on a regular basis. This allows them some excellent buys on fine and rare world coins as well as a first look at any catalog offerings that will be coming up.

“We’re excited to provide this opportunity to collectors,” said Bierrenbach. “They love fine world coins the way that we do here at Heritage, so we know what a regular buying occasion can do for them, and for their collections.”

For more information on this and other future World Coin Monthly Internet Auctions, to read detailed descriptions and download fully enlargeable, hi-res images, go online to the Heritage World Coin Auctions homepage. (more…)

Odyssey brought the “Black Swan” case to federal court in the spring of 2007 after discovering a site in the Atlantic Ocean with over 500,000 gold and silver coins. Spain filed a claim in the case asserting that the cargo came from the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes, a Spanish vessel which exploded in 1804. Despite the absence of a vessel at the site, the District Court Magistrate has indicated that he believes that there is sufficient evidence to confirm that the site is that of the Mercedes and that the vessel and its cargo are subject to sovereign immunity.

“We will object to the Magistrate’s recommendation,” said Melinda MacConnel, Odyssey’s Vice President and General Counsel. “This is clearly a case where there are many relevant issues of fact that have been disputed, including the issue of whether the Mercedes was on a commercial mission and whether the property recovered belonged to Spain. I presume that the claimants in the case who assert ownership rights by virtue of the fact that their ancestors owned a portion of the cargo will join us in objecting.”

“I’m very surprised,” said Odyssey’s CEO, Greg Stemm. “Odyssey has done everything by the book. For the Court to find that enough evidence exists to conclusively identify the site as the Mercedes and that neither Odyssey nor the claimants who owned the property have any legal interest is just wrong. I’m confident that ultimately the judge or the appellate court will see the legal and evidentiary flaws in Spain’s claim, and we’ll be back to argue the merits of the case.” (more…)

DALLAS, TX – International variety will be the name of the game at Heritage Auction Galleries Long Beach World Coin Auction , May 28-29 and 31, with an exceedingly rare 1770 Nuevo Reino Pillar Dollar anchoring the country and continent spanning collection. Of the two that aren’t already in private hands – or held by private institutions – this one is by far the more pristine. It’s estimated at $60,000-$80,000 and officially listed as a Carlos III Pillar 8 Reales 1770NR-VJ, KM39 (Date Unlisted), Calico 1000, Cayon Unlisted, MS64 NGC.

Until three years ago, no one even knew that the 1770 Nuevo Reino Pillar Dollar existed. That changed quickly, however, when an amazing stash of 14 coins was found during the bulldozing of a parking lot in Bogota that was being razed for a new building. Buried beneath the dirt and the decades was the old foundations of the Nuestra Senora del Pilar church.

The church, which existed from 1770 until 1948 when it was set ablaze during riots, was also a convent and school for girls. The church was eventually torn down and the area turned into a parking lot. When construction began on a new building three years ago and crews started digging, a small group of coins turned up – including the 14 1770 Nuevo Reino Pillars.

“The amazing thing about this Pillar Dollar,” said Cristiano Bierrenbach, Director of International Sales at Heritage, “is that we can actually trace it to the very day and place of its minting. The entire history of this coin, and the reason for which it was created, is right on its face.”

Under a special “Treasure” section, we have this “Money” chain, probably one of the largest ever recovered from a shipwreck, weighing more than 57 ounces of pure gold. The massive gold “Money Chain” from the Santa Margarita Wreck (circa 1620) , 407 solid links, more than 10 feet long, and weighing 57.55oz (1789.8 grams), 22 karat certainly meets the criteria for the lot most likely to inspire buyers; it’s hard to imagine that a heavier gold “money chain” exists.

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(Sydney, Australia, 5th May 2009). The famed Quartermaster Collection, containing many of Australia’s most valuable and highest quality gold coins, will be going to auction on the 4th of June 2009.

Featuring many of Australia’s rarest coins, this Auction will be unlike any other seen in Australia.

The collection of 344 items is an anthology of Australian gold currency, spanning 1852 to 1931. Tony Richardson, a director of Monetarium (Australia) Pty Ltd, says, “It’s an extraordinary achievement to have assembled such a comprehensive collection of rare coins. I doubt it will ever be seen again”.

Some of the lots that will go under the hammer are unique or very few are known to exist: including the excessively rare Adelaide Assay Office Ingots & Port Phillip Patterns, one of only two 1852 Five Pounds Coins and the finest quality Type 1 & Type 2 Adelaide Pounds.

For Australia, these coins are an invaluable source of recollection for this young country’s economic independence. For many years, they have been the most impressive presentation of Australia’s first currency and are some of the most prized and historically significant pieces attainable for a quality numismatic portfolio. (more…)

Ponterio & Associates, Inc., a division of Bowers and Merena Auctions, will offer almost 3000 lots featuring an exceptional selection of world coins and currency hailing from Russia, China, Mexico, Cuba, Australia, Latin America and more.

The auction is highlighted by two standout banknote collections. The J.S. Morgan Collection of Early Russian Banknotes covers approximately 100 years and features early 19th to early 20th century banknotes. Of special interest is lot 1056, Russia/Imperial, 25 Rubles, 1843, P-A38, Specimen. State Credit Note, Original Documentation Included, About Uncirculated, Extremely Fine. This 25 Rubles note is an unlisted item in the SCWPM and finding another example at a public offering will likely be far too long for any collector to wait. This piece shows with a distinctive appeal exhibiting the vertical format, which highlights the long specimen overprint.

Already a spotlight collection for Bowers and Merena Auctions, The East Bay Collection of International Banknotes is sure to draw the interest of banknote enthusiasts worldwide. The East Bay Collection is believed to be the largest collection of international banknotes ever to come to market. Assembled over the course of 40 years by a private collector in Northern California, it originally consisted of more than 30,000 notes representative of over 150 countries. The collection debuted in Bowers and Merena’s October 2008 New York auction with Chinese and related Asian banknotes and Russian and European banknotes. A special highlight in this CICF auction is lot 39, Australia, 5 Pounds, 1913, P-5a, Commonwealth of Australia, Fine. The note is signed Collins and Allen and is an early issue that is hard to obtain in any grade.

Find complete details including a schedule of events and list of Bourse table holders at cicfshow.com.

The church, which existed from 1770 until 1948 when it was set ablaze during riots, was also a convent and school for girls. The church was eventually torn down and the area turned into a parking lot. When construction began on a new building three years ago and crews started digging, a small group of coins turned up — including the 14 1770 Nuevo Reino Pillars.

Now, of the two that aren’t already in private hands, or held by private institutions, the most pristine will be a featured lot in Heritage’s May 31 Long Beach World Coin Auction. It is estimated at $60,000-$80,000. It is officially listed as a Carlos III Pillar 8 Reales 1770NR-VJ, KM39 (Date Unlisted), Calico 1000, Cayon Unlisted, MS64 NGC.

The amazing thing about this Pillar Dollar is that we can actually trace it to the very day and place of its minting. The entire history of this coin, and the reason for which it was created, is right on its face

Few world crowns demand as much numismatic interest as the Columnarios, or Pillar Dollars, that were struck from 1732 to 1773 in numerous Spanish mint houses throughout the Americas. By the second half of the 18th century, the Pillar Dollar had truly become “world currency,” finding wide use both in Europe, the United States (where it was legal tender) and the Far East.

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Stack’s is proud to present the Firth of Clyde Collection of Scottish Coins for public auction on April 23, 2009 in Rosemont, Illinois. This extensive collection provides a fascinating cross section of Scottish history that spans the 13th through the 18th centuries, with a nicely balanced selection of both gold and silver issues.

The 15th and 16th century coinage offered here provides a particularly exciting opportunity, with some of the most historic and beautiful pieces of the collection hailing from this time period. To describe this collection as merely significant is to vastly understate its importance—the Firth of Clyde Collection represents a unique opportunity to acquire high quality examples from the rarest series in the Scottish numismatic legacy.

This collection is studded with formidable rarities from every significant time period, beginning with William I, “the Lion,” and his reign from 1165 to 1214. Laden with early issues from the 13th and 14th centuries, the offering includes a scarce Halfpenny of John Baliol, an important historical figure whose demise helped to inspire the famous William Wallace.

This Halfpenny, choice for the series, is a rare variety within this scarce type and features a solid portrait. Issues of Robert III, the son of Robert II who founded the Stuart dynasty that would retain a solid hold on power until the death of Anne in 1714, feature a pair of historic Gold Lions. The first is an attractive About Very Fine example from the heavy coinage period, and the second, a lovely example from the light coinage period, is also in About Very Fine condition. (more…)

”We’re very proud to partner with TNS and iAsure, market leaders in Southeast Asia, to make CCG’s services more accessible than ever before. CCG is committed to expanding our business into the Asian market and this further solidifies our leadership position in Southeast Asia. This new submission center provides collectors safe and secure handling of their coins as well the benefit of our guarantee and certification expertise which is preferred worldwide,” comments Steven R. Eichenbaum, CCG Chief Executive Officer.

CCG, through its member organizations, provides industry-leading grading and conservation services for the collectibles market. Among those working under the banner of CCG to build confidence in the collectible markets is Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), the leading coin certification company having graded more than 16 million coins. Additionally, Numismatic Conservation Services (NCS), the only professional agency devoted to the conservation of coins and medals, and Paper Money Guaranty (PMG), the leading currency certification company, will add their trusted names to this exciting partnership.

TNS is the oldest and most active numismatic association in Taiwan. Established in 1978, the principle objective of TNS is to develop cultural research in Chinese numismatics to build and support the continual growth of the Asian coin market. TNS is an active publisher of coin journals and newsletters as well as the host of numerous trade seminars and exhibitions. Having received the highly regarded approval of Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance, members of TNS include prominent collectors and dealers. Currently, the Society’s president is Mr. Chou Chien Fu. (more…)

A culmination of 15 years of dedicated hard work by a passionate and highly enthusiastic collector, this diverse and beautiful collection has been created not simply for the benefit of those assembling it, but as a collection that will provide future generations of numismatists with a greater knowledge and understanding of a long neglected area of study.

As an avid historian this collector has looked into the history of the country of origin for each of these coins and traced their provenance back to nearly all the great collectors of the coins of the British Empire of the last 40 years. The catalogues for all three of these sales have been produced as inspirational works to stand alongside previous auction catalogues and numismatic books, offering a window to the past for future generations of numismatists to add their thoughts, observations and criticisms. The collectors hope that through their work these aspiring numismatists will gain a better understanding of rarity, striking standards and characteristics of these coins.

As with the past two sales this auction contains only the best possible grade of coins and includes items from Hong Kong, Cyprus and Sierra Leone as well as coins from the Straits Settlements, Indian Princely States and Independent Kingdoms. Amongst the many highlights include Lot 92, a Hong Kong 1941 Proof 1-Cent (pictured above), the rarest type coin of the Hong Kong series (estimate £15,000 - 20,000), and lot 332 a 1791 Proof Dollar from Sierra Leone (estimate £12,000 - 16,000). (more…)