$100 million auctions?

Will the New York International Numismatic Convention be the first $100 million auction event ever achieved?

Bourse Chairman Kevin Foley thinks it’s possible.

The 40th Annual New York International Numismatic Convention will feature 10 days of action starting with viewing of auction lots Dec. 31. The convention will be held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Dec. 31, 2011, to Jan. 9, 2012.

The tenth volume of Coin Hoards is again focused on ancient Greek coinage.

Nine different auction companies will offer world and ancient numismatic material in 16 sessions. Sales are scheduled to begin Jan. 2 and finish Jan. 9.

Official NYINC auctions will be held by Heritage, Classical Numismatic Group, Freeman and Sear, Stack’s Bowers, a troika consisting of Baldwin’s, M&M Numismatics and Dmitry Markov, as well as Kolbe & Fanning Booksellers and Gemini Auctions.

“Our auctions at the 40th annual NYINC will set the standard for many years to come,” Foley said. “There is a realistic chance that our nine auction houses and 16 sessions will see a total prices realized of $100 million. This would make the NYINC auction results the highest total for any numismatic event in the history of American numismatics,” he said.

The complete schedule of auction viewing and auction session times is available on the NYINC website, www.nyinc.info.
Bourse activities commence 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, with the Professional Preview Day. During the preview collectors and dealers without booths will be able to gain early access to the bourse area in advance of the general public for a $100 registration fee.

Regular public show hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Admission will be $10 for a three-day pass valid Friday-Sunday.

“Our bourse area for 2012 was sold out within four weeks of the conclusion of the 2011 NYINC, with only six of our 118 slots changing hands,” Foley said. “That fact alone confirms the commercial vitality of the NYINC better than any advertising puffery I might conjure up,” he added.

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In 2011 public registrants hailed from 22 foreign countries and 31 states. Roughly 25 percent of booth holders were from outside the United States, according to Foley.

Various educational programs will be given on Saturday, Jan. 7. A number of clubs that Foley called loyal supporters of the NYINC for many years will conduct programs by numismatic authors and researchers.

At 11 a.m. on Friday a program called “Numismatic Counterfeits from China: a Threat to the Future and Stability of the Numismatic Marketplace” will be held.

Rooms remain available at the Waldorf for NYINC attendees at specially discounted rates of $290 or $312. Callers should contact the hotel at (212) 355-3000 and mention rate code “NYQ” to qualify.

Contact Foley at kfoley2@wi.rr.com for more information.