Lunch with Jim Halperin, Heritage Auction co-chairman and author, will be offered as a ?lot? in conjunction with the firm?s official auction of the American Numismatic Association?s Baltimore convention.
All proceeds from the winning bid, including the buyer?s premium, will be donated to the ANA?s education programs for improving numismatic resources on the ANA Web site, as well as the Coins in the Classroom project.
The winning bidder will have a one-on-one lunch with Halperin at a mutually convenient time and place.
?The rarity of this offering cannot really be overstated,? said Greg Rohan, Heritage president. ?I don?t recall ever in our 21 years working together of having lunch one-on-one with Jim,? he quipped.
The lunch date lot will be offered during Heritage?s Platinum Night sale on July 31. Bids will be accepted in person and online at www.HA.com.
The first bid already has been received. Scott A. Travers, numismatic author and former ANA vice president, opened the bidding at $1,500.
Travers suggested the fund-raising auction after exchanging e-mails with Halperin about a recent charity auction involving a lunch date with renowned investor Warren Buffett, a subject Halperin?s personal interest.
?About eight years ago, my friend Scott Tilson and I bought lunch with Warren Buffett at a charity auction for $20,000, and we enjoyed it so much that we bought it again the following year ? for $30,000,? said Halperin.
Halperin is the author of How to Grade U.S. Coins, as well as two best-selling science fiction books.