Huge Long Beach Expo scheduled

From Donn Pearlman


Largest Long Beach Expo
Set For February 24 - 26, 2005


The largest, busiest event in the history of the Long Beach Coin,
Stamp & Collectibles Expo is planned for February 24 - 26, 2005,
according to General Chairman Ronald J. Gillio. The three-day show
will be held in the Long Beach, California Convention Center, 100 S.
Pine Ave.

In addition to the upbeat numismatic marketplace, the impressive
public line-up includes the Southern California introduction of new
products by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing; several multi-million
dollar special displays of rare coins and bank notes; and a dozen club
meetings and educational programs.

Seminars include two informative seminars by eBay consultant, Troy
Thoreson. Ancient coins specialist, David Michaels of Freeman-Sear,
will dress in costume as a second-century Roman soldier for his
presentation, "Arms and the Man: Depictions of Ancient Military
Equipment and Uniforms on Coins."

"It will be a busy and exciting time for collectors and
dealers," said Gillio.

Here is a partial listing of the events and exhibits. A complete
Schedule of Events can be found online at www.LongBeachShow.com.

=B7 The BEP will sell for the first time in California its latest Lunar
New Year "Prosperity Notes," $1 and $5 denomination notes each
beginning with four 8's in the serial numbers. The BEP also will set
up its popular "Billion Dollar Display" of high-denomination paper
money, conduct plate printing demonstrations on a century-old, one-ton
"spider" printing press, and display a proof example of the famous
1918 "Inverted Jenny" airmail stamp.

=B7 Heritage Galleries, the official auctioneer for the Long Beach
Expo, will conduct both Signature Sale and Bullet Sales. The auction
includes the spectacular $2.5 million Bruce Scher Collection of PCGS
Registry Sets and many other notable consignments.

=B7 Special educational exhibits and displays are planned by Numismatic
Guaranty Corporation (NGC); Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS);
and on-site participation by Professional Stamp Experts (PSE).

NGC's new paper money grading service will have a $6 million
display that includes 60 $10,000 denomination notes from the Binion
Collection courtesy of Spectrum Numismatics and 40 First National Bank
of Nevada (Reno) $5 Series 1929 bank notes courtesy of Gillio. PCGS
will have a $4.5 million "showdown" with side-by-side comparisons
of the top three registered Barber half dollar sets.

Other special exhibits on the bourse floor include:

=B7 The finest known 1894-S dime from the Richmond Collection courtesy
of Mark Salzberg of NGC and John Feigenbaum of David Lawrence Rare
Coins;

=B7 The recently reported, unique 1755 Bogot=E1 Mint 4-escudos from the
Eliasberg Collection along with the other 2,800 Eliasberg world gold
coins that recently emerged from a Baltimore bank;

=B7 A genuine Inverted Jenny 24=A2 airmail stamp (Scott C3a) valued at
$200,000;

=B7 Exhibits hosted by the Long Beach Coin Club and Long Beach Stamp
Club.

"A gold coin door prize will awarded each day, and the extremely
popular Kid's Treasure Hunt will be conducted on Saturday, February
26," said Gillio. "To mark the Lunar New Year, we'll also have
"lucky" limited edition $8 denomination casino chips from the
Mandalay Bay, Excalibur and Monte Carlo casinos in Las Vegas."

A private seminar for investors interested in rare coins and
precious metals, the Sjuggerud Gold Conference, will be held in
conjunction with the February Long Beach Expo.

In addition to eBay and Heritage, other Expo sponsors include
eBay, Heritage, PCGS, NGC, British Royal Mint, Spanish Royal Mint, UBS
Numismatics/Art Banking, World Money Fair of Basel, Switzerland and
Coin Facts.com.

Show hours are Thursday and Friday, February 24 and 25, from 10:00
a=2Em. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, February 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00
p=2Em. (The show is closed on Sunday.)

Admission is $8 (good for all three days); $4 for seniors 65 and
older. Admission for coin and stamp club members (with valid
membership card) is $5. Free admission for children aged seven and
younger.

For additional information about the Long Beach Coin, Stamp &
Collectibles Expo, contact Expos Unlimited, 1103 State St., Santa
Barbara, CA 93101. Phone: (805) 962-9939. Web:
www.LongBeachShow.com.

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Be sure to pay for parking, admission, and food (and coin purchases)
with Golden Dollars.

God forbid the show people actually use them as change when people pay
for admission with $20 bills.

-Fred Shecter
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQ...shreadv ector