Collectors will converge in sunny Orlando for the Florida United Numismatists’ convention of 2009. The show will take place Jan. 8-11 at the Orange County Convention Center.

There will be a plethora of educational seminars from which show-goers can choose to attend. Copper specialist and certified accountant Chuck Heck will discuss the tax implications of selling a coin collection at 11 a.m. on Jan. 8. Novice collectors may wish to attend FUN President Bob Hurst’s presentation of “Afghanistan to Zimbabwe – How to Start a World Coin Collection” at noon that same day.

Florida dealer Don Bonser will present, “Which Coins To Buy and Which Coins To Avoid During Economic Hard Times” at 1:15 p.m. on Jan. 9. Bill Fivaz will conduct a counterfeit detection seminar at 4 p.m. on Jan. 10.

Prior to the official opening of the convention, the Industry Council for Tangible Assets will hold its annual cash reporting/anti-money laundering seminar. Ray Gregson, a former IRS CID special agent, will be the featured speaker at the event. It is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Jan. 7 and  will be free of charge to all FUN convention dealers.

FUN will host an exhibit competition during the convention. The Best of Show winner will receive a one-week scholarship to the American Numismatic Association Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Activities are in place for the young collector. A Young Numismatist program is scheduled for FUN members ages 5 to 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 10. A Boy and Girl Scout Coin Collecting Merit Badge program will be held at 1 p.m. the same day.

Among the collecting groups holding meetings at FUN are the Bust Quarter Collectors Society at 2 p.m. on Jan. 9, the Barber Coin Collectors’ Society at 3 p.m. on Jan. 9, an  ANA Town Hall Meeting at 4 p.m. on Jan. 9, Women In Numismatics at 9 a.m. on Jan. 10, the Cuban Numismatic Association at 1 p.m. on Jan. 10, and FUN at 9 a.m. on Jan. 11.

Public bourse hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8-10, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 11.

For more show information and a complete schedule of events, visit FUN’s Web site at www.funtopics.com.