IRVINE, Calif. (September 22, 2014) — Stack’s Bowers Galleries is pleased to present their fall Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo. As is the tradition, the fall auctions feature the full scope of numismatics, including world and ancient coins, world banknotes, U.S. coins, U.S. banknotes, medals, tokens and related items. The world and ancient sessions will provide a strong and interesting selection of coins from important collections, individual rarities, and old time holdings, including: The David Gray Collection; selections from the Collections of The Strong Museum, Rochester, New York, originally collected by John Charles Woodbury (1859-1937) and sold to benefit the museum’s collections fund; further selections from the Demarete Collection; further selections from the George Gund III Collection and the Demar Collection.

Session A begins with 153 lots of world banknotes, a field that has increased in popularity in our auctions within the last few years. Our presentation offers a mix of collector-oriented material, which will attract attention. Following the banknotes is a selection of 236 lots of coins from Ancient Greece, Rome and Byzantium. A good mix of popular collector-oriented coins will provide interest for both beginner and more seasoned ancient coin collectors. Session A concludes with an impressive offering of 331 lots of the coins of Mexico, long a specialty of Stack’s Bowers. The David Gray Collection features a wide range of late cob and early milled silver coins, with a focus on the transition years of 1732-34, and also offering a wide range of Pillar type 8 Reales. A fabulous selection of the coins of independent Mexico are highlighted by a high grade “Hook Neck” 8 Escudo and a choice Mint State 2 Real, only the third such example we have handled. An interesting group of Mexican Patterns and the Demar Collection of Mexican Revolution coinage round out the session. “The extensive offering is sure to attract many bidders from south of the border,” stated Richard Ponterio, Executive Vice President of Stack’s Bowers. “We are pleased to present such a wide range of Mexican coins to the collecting community.” Kent Ponterio, Senior Numismatist, World and Ancient Coins added, “The David Gray Collection illustrates a very important time in the coinage history of Mexico, one that was fascinating for me to research and put together in an article that will be published in the catalog, which explains in depth this important era.”

Session B features coins of the world, from Afghanistan to Venezuela, and as is usual in our sales, comprises a diverse offering. “While the sale does not contain the number of five and six-figure rarities that our recently concluded ANA sale did, the selection will attract much bidding attention from collectors,” Brian Kendrella, President of Stack’s Bowers said. “A nice mix of Latin American, British, and Russian coins will cross the block in this session.”

“Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio will be presenting another sale of Asian coins and banknotes in the inaugural Macau Showcase auction. That sale will be closing to consignments on September 30,” Richard Ponterio stated, “with our annual New York International Sale in January close behind. With the strength of the world coin market, we are pleased to be able to present three world coin sales in a three-month time frame. Now would be a good time to take advantage of the strength in the global market for rare world and ancient coins and banknotes, and consign to one of our upcoming showcase auctions.”

Additional highlights from the sale:

Lot 8. Reserve Bank of Australia. 10 Dollars, 26.1.1988. P-49s. Specimen. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64.

Lot 40. Den Dansk Vestindiske National Bank. 10 Francs, 1905. P-18a. PCGS Fine 15 Apparent. Minor Restorations.

Lot 86. Allied Military Currency. 2 Lire, 1943. P-M11b. Doubled Print Error. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64.

Lot 99. Banco de Mexico. 100 Pesos, 1866. P-9r. Remainder. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64.

Lot 158. Lucania. Thurium. AR Distater (15.60 gms), ca. 400-350 B.C. NEARLY EXTREMELY FINE.

Lot 178. Athens. AR Tetradrachm (17.16 gms), ca. 454-404 B.C. NGC AU, Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5.

Lot 208. Bar Kochba Revolt, 132-135 A.D. AR Sela Tetradrachm (14.20 gms), ND, ca. Year 3 (A.D. 134/5). EXTREMELY FINE.

Lot 243. Nero, A.D. 54-68. AV Aureus (7.31 gms), Rome Mint, ca. A.D. 64-68. EXTREMELY FINE.

Lot 422. MEXICO. Real, 1733-MXF. Philip V (1700-46). NGC Fine Details–Polished. From the David Gray Collection. Ex: Ponterio & Associates Sale #130, Lot #680.

Lot 457. MEXICO. 4 Reales, 1732-Mo. Philip V (1700-46). NGC VF Details–Salt Water Damage, Cleaned. From the David Gray Collection. Ex: Ponterio & Associates Sale #89 Lot 789 August 12, 1997 (Front cover coin). Ex: Reijgersdaal.

Lot 481. MEXICO. 8 Reales, 1733/2-MXF. Philip V (1700-46). NGC VF-35. From the David Gray Collection. Purchased from Richard Long May 1997.

Lot 575. MEXICO. 8 Escudos, 1733-MoF. Philip V (1700-46). NGC AU-50. From the David Gray Collection. Ex: Ponterio & Associates Sale #141 Lot #2291 January 13, 2007.

Lot 620. MEXICO. Empire of Iturbide. 8 Escudos, 1822-MoJM. NGC MS-62.

Lot 647. MEXICO. Empire of Maximilian. 50 Centavos, 1866-Mo. NGC MS-63. From the Demar Collection.

Lot 713. MEXICO. Revolution. Oaxaca. 20 Pesos, 1915-TM. NGC MS-65. From the Demar Collection.

Lot 1048. CHILE. Peso, 1867-SO. NGC MS-64. Ex: R.L. Lissner Collection.

Lot 1220. GERMANY. 5 Reichsmark, 1932/1-A. PCGS AU-55 Secure Holder. A newly discovered overdate and possibly unique.

Lot 1236. GREAT BRITAIN. Noble, ND (1422-27). London Mint. Henry VI (First Reign) (1422-61). PCGS MS-63 Secure Holder.

Lot 1284. GREAT BRITAIN. Six Piece Proof Set, 1893.

Lot 1521. SWITZERLAND. Glarus. 40 Batzen, 1847. PCGS MS-65 Secure Holder.

About Stack’s Bowers Galleries

Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducts live, Internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company’s 80-year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, The Guia Collection, The Thos. H. Law Collection, and The Robert O. Ebert Collection.

Topping off this amazing numismatic history is the inclusion of the world record for the highest price ever realized at auction for a rare coin, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar graded Specimen-66 (PCGS) that realized over $10 million, part of their sale of the famed Cardinal Collection. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in New York, Wolfeboro, Hong Kong, and Paris. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is an Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including American Numismatic Association events, the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Professional Numismatists Guild New York Invitational, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, and also hosts auctions in April and August in Hong Kong.