Jerry Brown, a coin collecting former California governor, and eBay?s newly appointed coin manager were among the 4,834 visitors and dealers who attended the Long Beach, Calif., Coin, Stamp and Collectibles Expo Sept. 14-16.
Brown, who is now mayor of Oakland, toured the bourse floor and attended a reception in his honor as part of his campaign for California attorney general.
?It also was an honor for Gov. Brown to visit the show. He said he?s collected Indian Head and Lincoln cents and Mercury dimes,? said Ronald J. Gillio, expo general chairman.
A thank you reception sponsored by eBay was held for dealers to meet Helen Chang of eBay?s Coin and Stamp Category Management Team.
The Long Beach Expo was selected as the site for shooting photographs that will appear in the next edition of the Boy Scouts of America coin collecting merit badge book. Three Scouts from Long Beach Troop 21 were photographed while looking at coins and talking to dealers.
The U.S. Treasury Department?s popular Billion Dollar Display attracted many visitors, and the BEP reported it sold out of some merchandise within the first few hours on Thursday morning.
Heritage Auction Galleries of Dallas, Texas conducted the official coin and paper money auctions. (See Page 1) and George Frederick Kolbe of Crestline, Calif., conducted a public auction of rare numismatic books.
The Long Beach Coin Club gave exhibit awards.
United States: First place $100 award went to Andrew Woodruff for ?Making the Grade? (a paper money display); and second place $75 award to Gary Beedon for an exhibit of photos and numismatic souvenirs from the recent American Numismatic Association Member Appreciation Day.
Foreign: First place $100 award was given to Mike Ontoko for ?Holy Cow! The Story of an Odd Mintmark,? and the second place $75 award was given to Roy Iwata for ?The Phrygian Cap ? Liberty Cap.?
The next Long Beach Expo will be held Feb. 15-17, 2007.
