From the Desk of Christine Karstedt: Baltimore is around the Corner

By Christine Karstedt, Executive Vice President

Our March sale in Baltimore is just around the corner with sale dates including March 21^st to the 24^th. Held in conjunction with the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo, this is one of the most heavily attended auctions and shows of the year. We are pleased to present the return of Rarities Night where a steady stream of showstoppers will cross the block on the evening of March 22^nd. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is known for showcasing old time collections and this sale will be no exception. I’ll provide more details shortly but I suggest you schedule your attendance today.

Dave Bowers and I will be on deck at the sale and, on Friday afternoon, host a symposium along with industry leader Scott Travers from 1 pm to 3 pm to discuss coin collecting, the gold market, and how best to maximize the value of your collection. Part of the talk will include the importance of being a member of the American Numismatic Association and free online memberships will be offered to those in attendance.

Today, as I was talking with a client regarding the current economy, it reminded me of a conversation I had with a well known collector who shared illustrations he uses to help people fathom the magnitude of staggering numbers like $1 trillion and $1 billion. I still find them interesting and share them with you here. If you were to be paid $1 million a day, every day, from the time Christ was born until today, you would NOT have $1 trillion....you would have about 3/4 of a trillion dollars. If you were to measure $1 million made up of a stack of $100 dollar bills, the stack would be about 8 1/2 inches tall. A stack totaling $1 billion would be the height of the Washington Monument. So the next time you hear about deficits and spending or recovery money whether in your home state or Washington D.C. maybe you’ll think of this and better understand the enormity of the issue.

We are currently gathering consignments for our spectacular 2012 auction season. Next on the agenda is June, in Baltimore once again, as official auctioneers for Whitman, followed by the ever popular ANA World’s Fair of Money in Philadelphia this August. We anticipate a great coin market all the way through the close of 2012 so jump on the bandwagon and get top dollar for your collection. I invite you to contact me or any staffer to include your coins, tokens, medals, or paper money in any of our upcoming sales. Let Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ unparalleled record of auction success be your success too!

All the best,

Chris