Consignment Information
Thinking of selling your coin and currency collection? Let Bowers and Merena help
you realize the best possible market price. What we have done for others, we can
do for you. Over the years we have handled more valuable coin and currency collections
and have set more world's auction records than any other firm.
Selling your coin and currency collection through Bowers and Merena will be a pleasant,
enjoyable, and financially rewarding experience. From the moment we receive your
coins and currency we take care of everything, including insurance, security, advertising,
worldwide promotion, cataloging, photography and everything else. We offer several
avenues for selling your collection through auctions, each designed to bring you
the best possible return for your coins and currency. Our public auctions take place
before a live auction gallery and are held in major cities across the country, with
Internet bids gathered from around the world. All you have to do is invest the generous
check you receive once your coins and currency are sold!
How to Consign
Thinking of selling? Let Bowers and Merena Auctions help you obtain the highest possible price for your collection or individual rare pieces. Just take these three easy steps:
- Review the information on this page, and contact us (using one of the methods outlined below) to receive your consignment package which will include an auction consignment agreement.
- Mail your coins to us along with the white copy of your consignment agreement, or contact us for complete information regarding secure transportation of your valuable coins to our offices.
- Cash your generous settlement check 45 days after the sale. Or, take advantage of our generous cash advance option.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Contact Us About Your Consignment
Bowers and Merena
18061 Fitch
Irvine, CA, 92614, USA
USA 
Telephone: (800) 458-4646 and (949) 253-0916
Fax: (949) 253-4091
Email: Info@BowersAndMerena.com
Bowers and Merena Sells The World's Greatest Collections
Over the years we have sold hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of coins, paper money, and other numismatic items for tens of thousands of consignors, ranging from museums, government agencies, and institutions to private collectors. When the world's most valuable collection of United States coins, the nearly $45 million Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., Collection, was brought to market by the Eliasberg family, we catalogued and sold it.
The total realization of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection was an astounding $38 million, and ranks as the second most valuable collection sold at public auction.
When the $25 million Garrett Collection owned by The Johns Hopkins University was auctioned, we catalogued and sold it. Just prior to consigning the collection to us, the University had it appraised by a leading firm, and the valuation was set at $9 million. Due to our efforts it realized nearly three times the appraised price!
Similarly, we catalogued and sold the $20 million Norweb Collection, which had been valued at $10 million before our sale.
Of the top five United States coin collections ever to be auctioned, we have catalogued and sold four.
Let our success be your success! We invite you to share in the success we have given to others:
- Johns Hopkins University
- New York Public Library
- Connecticut Historical Society
- Morgan Guaranty Trust Company
- The Salvation Army
- Boys Town
- Carl Womack
- Rod Sweet
- James W. Lull
- Thousands of other institutions and private coin collectors
We offer you the same care and expertise which has focused world-wide attention on our auctions and has brought our consignors greater prices than through any other venue. What we have done for others we can do for you as well!
We Hold World Record Prices
Bowers and Merena holds three of the top eight world-record auction prices for U.S. coins.*
In addition, we hold the following records as well:
- The most valuable territorial coin ever auctioned ($500,000 for an 1851 Assay Commission $50 "slug").
- The most valuable U.S. medal ever sold at auction ($115,000 for a Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace medal).
- The most valuable copper coin ever auctioned, ($506,000 for a 1796 No Pole half cent).
Over the years, The Guinness Book of World Records has devoted more space to the records held by Bowers and Merena Auctions than to all of our competitors combined!
*For auctions since 1994, as listed in the 2005 edition of A Guide Book of United States Coins.
A staff of the world's finest numismatists
Click here to meet the Bowers and Merena professional numismatic staff.
Finest Numismatic Auction Catalogues in the world
Each of our Grand Format™ auction catalogues is a numismatic masterpiece. Our publications have earned more "Catalogue of the Year" honors from the Numismatic Literary Guild than those of any of our competitors.
This is due not only to the cataloguing expertise of our staff, but to our award-winning photography (we regularly supply photographs to Coin World, Numismatic News, The Numismatist, and A Guide Book of United States Coins, in addition to our own catalogues), and superb graphics by our state-of-the-art, in-house Graphic Arts Department.
From start to finish, the catalogue is prepared with one thought in mind: to create the very best. There is no substitute for quality, and your collection will sell for the best possible price when showcased in our superbly illustrated Grand Format™ catalogue.
Your Auctioneers for Coins, Currency, Banknotes, Tokens, and Medals
Bowers and Merena has a long tradition of handling important currency, banknotes, tokens, and medals in addition to coins.
Our sales of currency have brought to market many important properties from noteworthy consignors such as Herman Halpern, Harry W. Bass, Jr., Robert Lindesmith, Wayne S. Rich, Boys Town, and The Franklin Institute, among others. The Bass Collection, in particular, stands as a landmark among important collections of U.S. currency, not only for its wide scope, but for the memorable prices realized at the sale.
Important tokens and medals have been the focus of many of our auctions over the years. Extraordinary properties from collections such as those of Virgil Brand, Chris Schenkel, David Dreyfuss, Julian Leidman, Harry W. Bass, Jr., and Lucien LaRiviere have benefitted from our authoritative research and impressive presentation. The LaRiviere Collection of Betts medals, Indian Peace medals and Washingtonia realized over $1 million, an extraordinary sum for such a collection. We have sold the most valuable U.S. medal ever to cross the auction block, a silver Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace medal for $115,000.
careful evaluation of your coins and currency
Once your coins arrive on our premises, our work begins. Each piece will be carefully evaluated, catalogued, and presented in our next available major auction event. We work on a commission basis; therefore, we have the same incentive as you do: to achieve the best possible price for your coins.
As the world's most important advertiser in numismatic publications, and as a major advertiser in financial and other non-numismatic publications, we will attract enthusiastic bidders from all parts of the globe. This will include new buyers, as well as our regular clientele of coin collectors, investors, dealers, and others who have participated in our auctions for many years. Our Internet presence adds to the global market for your consigned items.
Right now we are accepting consignments for our upcoming sales to be held in Baltimore, Beverly Hills, and other metropolitan areas. Our auction team will work with you to choose the sale that best fits your needs.
Your settlement will be issued 45 days after the sale. We are sure that you, like thousands of others, will be delighted with the amount.
If needed, we can provide an instant cash advance against the projected proceeds. In that way you can have your money to spend now, and yet still take advantage of our auction service and have our coins presented to our world-wide clientele of thousands of potential bidders. Indeed, the same buyers who competed to set world-record prices in the past will have the opportunity to compete for your coins as well.
Unsurpassed security and protection
We are as concerned about the security and protection of your coin collection as you are. Since our founding in 1953, we have had a reputation for complete integrity in all areas, providing you freedom from worry.
Your coins and currency can be shipped with complete confidence through the postal service by registered, insured mail. This is the safest way to transport your valuable coin collection. In fact, when it was decided to send the Hope Diamond from New York City to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, a number of ways were considered, including armored truck, courier service, and the U.S. Postal Service. It was decided to send this treasure by registered, insured mail. Needles to say, it arrived quickly and safely.
Any package can be insured up to a maximum amount of $25,000 per parcel using the postal system. If you wish to send packages in excess of this limit, all you need to do is send an inventory of your collection and then contact a member of our auction staff toll-free on the day you ship the package. We will arrange additional insurance coverage, at our expense, through our all-risk Lloyd's of London policy.
In the case of very large or valuable collections, arrangements can be made through Brink's to have our representative pick up coins directly from your bank and transport them to our bank vaults.
Your coins and currency will receive complete insurance coverage from the time they leave you until the time you receive full payment after the auction. You can rest assured that your valuable pieces are being handled with the greatest care by professional numismatists.
Cash advances instantly upon request!
When the time comes to sell your valuable collection no matter what the size (we recommend a minimum consignment value of $5,000) -- remember that any company can make claims, but only Bowers and Merena Auctions can back up those claims with verifiable public auction records.
While your collection is being showcased, we can offer you money to spend right now in the form of an instant cash advance against the proceeds of your consignment. All you have to do is ask!
This is all a part of the Bowers and Merena commitment to excellence. Over the years we have had more important properties and rarities consigned to us for auction than any other company in the history of the rare coin business.
When you consign your coins and currency to Bowers and Merena Auctions, you do so with the knowledge that you are working with the best rare coin and currency auction company in the world.