IRVINE, Calif. (March 2012) – Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducted its Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo March 19-27, 2012. The impressive sale presented 6,554 U.S. coin, currency and exonumia lots and realized a total of $16,407,956.

“The sale was extremely well attended and bidding activity was brisk for all types of U.S. coins,” commented Chris Napolitano, president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “Indicative of the continued strength of the rare coin market, we registered strong prices realized in series as diverse as colonials and territorial gold.”

The Jim Jones Collection of early American and colonial coinage was enthusiastically received by bidders specializing in this diverse and challenging segment of the market. Lot 1039 offered the Jones specimen of the historic and coveted 1776 Continental dollar. A Newman 1-C CURENCY example struck in pewter, certified AU-58 by PCGS and verified by CAC, this premium-quality coin realized a particularly strong price of $71,875.

 Among additional colonial coin consignments in the Stack’s Bowers March Baltimore Auction is the extremely rare 1776 New Hampshire copper, offered as lot 4005. Recently certified VG-10 by PCGS, the coin was acquired by the consignor from the famed Garrett Collection in 1980 for $13,000. Bidding opened at $45,000 and did not end until the realized price reached $172,500, rewriting the history books.

Among regular issue U.S. Mint coinage a lovely 1792 half disme in NGC AU-58 offered as lot 4051 far exceeded expectations when it traded hands for $212,750. The 1841 Liberty quarter eagle – the fabled Little Princess, and recently in the news thanks to a new study on the issue conducted by PCGS – sold for $105,800 as lot 4266, and a condition rarity 1851 Augustus Humbert $50 gold of the Lettered Edge, 50 D C, 880 Thous, No 50 on Reverse variety required $138,000 from the winning bidder as lot 4235. The 1841 quarter eagle is certified EF-45 and the 1851 Humbert $50 gold AU-55, both by PCGS.

 Additional highlights from the Stack’s Bowers Galleries March 2012 Baltimore Auction include:

• Lot 1008, 1652 Massachusetts Bay Colony Pine Tree Shilling, Large Planchet, Noe-1, EF-45 (PCGS), From the Collection of Jim Jones, realized $12,650
• Lot 1011, Undated (1659) Lord Baltimore Shilling, EF-40 (PCGS), From the Collection of Jim Jones, realized $23,000
• Lot 4042, 1864 Two-Cent Piece, Small Motto, Proof-65 RB (PCGS), CAC, realized $112,125
• Lot 4072, 1842-O Liberty Seated Quarter, Small Date, AU-53 (PCGS), realized $13,225
• Lot 4120, 1838 Gobrecht Silver Dollar, Name Removed, Judd-84 Restrike, Proof-64 (PCGS), Secure Holder, realized $83,375
• Lot 4159, 1877 Trade Dollar, Proof-65 Cameo (PCGS), CAC, realized $20,125
• Lot 4170, 1922 Grant Memorial Commemorative Half Dollar, Star, Proof-64 (PCGS), realized $184,000
• Lot 4174, 1934 Maryland Tercentenary Commemorative Half Dollar, Matte Proof-64 (NGC), realized $109,250
• Lot 4249, 1878 Gold Dollar, MS-67 (PCGS), CAC, realized $37,375
• Lot 4264, 1836 Classic Quarter Eagle, Proof-66 Ultra Cameo (NGC), realized $287,500
• Lot 4301, 1804 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, Small 8/Large 8, MS-62 (PCGS), CAC, realized $24,265
• Lot 4325, 1909 Indian Half Eagle, Proof-66 (PCGS), From the Demarete Collection, realized $83,375
• Lot 4352, 1876-S Liberty Double Eagle, MS-64+ (PCGS), CAC, Secure Holder, realized $46,000
• Lot 4358, 1907-D Liberty Double Eagle, MS-67 (PCGS), Secure Holder, realized $74,750

 For a complete list of prices realized in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries March 2012 Baltimore Auction, visit StacksBowers.com or call at 800.458.4646.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries is currently accepting consignments for the Official Auction of the June 2012 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo; the consignment deadline for U.S. coins is May 1, 2012. Consignments are also being accepted for Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Auction of the ANA World’s Fair of Money and ANA/PNG Pre-Show in August 2012. To consign contact Stack’s Bowers Galleries at 800.458.4646 (West Coast office) or 800.566.2580 (East Coast office), or by email atinfo@stacksbowers.com.

About Stack’s Bowers Galleries

Stack’s Bowers Galleries, a division of Fortune 500 Company Spectrum Group International Inc., was launched in January 2011, combining the extraordinary histories of Stack’s, the oldest rare coin auction and retail company in America, with Bowers and Merena Auctions, one of the world’s pre-eminent auctioneers of rare coins and paper money. The two companies unite to share a combined legacy that spans more than 100 years, and includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable collections to ever cross an auction block – the John. J. Ford, Jr. and Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., collections, the Harry W. Bass, Jr., Collection, and the Norweb Collection, to name just a few. 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 legendary 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle that realized an astounding $7.59 million (sold in partnership with Sotheby’s). The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in New York, New Hampshire and Hong Kong. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including the ANA World’s Fair of Money pre-show and convention auctions, and the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expos in Baltimore, three times yearly, and Philadelphia.