Three times a year, Ron Gillio is the host with the most at his Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo.
This year?s June 1-3 gathering was no different. Some 5,743 attended the event, from average collectors to David Hall, founder of Collectors Universe, parent firm of the Professional Coin Grading Service.
Seen at the Long Beach Expo with Ron Gillio, left, Expo chairman, was David Hall, founder of Collectors Universe.
"This is the second time in a year we?ve set an attendance record on opening day," said Gillio. There were 2,883 members of the public that day, he said.
A hot market and three top exhibits might have been reasons for them to go.
"One of the dealers, Jim Foster of Liberty Coin Galleries, told me that prior to the show he anticipated that the slump in gold bullion prices might affect business, but then he had the busiest opening day he's ever experienced at a Long Beach Expo," Gillio said.
Monaco Financial of Newport Beach, Calif., displayed California Gold Rush era pieces, including the finest known 1850 Baldwin & Co. Horseman $10, graded MS-65 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp.
Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, Calif., showed the finest known set of 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition commemoratives and related documents.
Also on display were the two finest known sets of mint state Eisenhower dollars listed in the PCGS Set Registry?.
Heritage Auction Galleriesconducted a Signature Coin Auction. See related story for results.
George F. Kolbe Fine Numismatic Books of Crestline, Calif., held auctions of books and manuscripts at the show.