‘Die-Hard’ Collectors Attend Long Beach

The Long Beach Coin, Currency, Stamp & Sports Expo greeted throngs of collectors from Southern California and beyond Sept. 29-Oct. 1 as the largest collectibles show of its kind on the West Coast. Held three times a year, the Long Beach Expo is a tradition for many collectors, and the September-October show proved once again to be a can’t-miss event for collectibles enthusiasts from coast to coast.

“The true collectors really showed up here at the Long Beach Expo,” said Taryn Warrecker, Long Beach Expo sales director. “When we looked around the bourse floor, we saw that so many of the people who attended were die-hard collectors looking for new acquisitions – many had their hands full with purchases. We wanted those who come to find a place to buy, sell and trade with the unique blend of collectibles dealers we bring each time,” Warrecker added, “You simply won’t find a variety of collectibles dealers and experts like those we host here anywhere else.”

“Along with offering one of the most diverse and dynamic dealer panels anywhere in the industry, we also presented a full slate of exciting events that drew collectors and even newbies,” noted Samantha Dark, senior event manager for Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). “We had a multitude of experts speaking on various topics of interest to a vast swath of the collectibles community. We also had many other exciting offerings for Long Beach Expo attendees, including a prize-filled treasure hunt for kids, educational exhibits, an appearance by the United States Mint and a multimillion-dollar rare coin auction.”

The Heritage Auctions sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection of rare gold coins and pattern coinage brought record-smashing hammer prices for some of the most valuable treasures known to coin collectors. Among the rarities that traded for seven figures was an 1821 Capped Head Left half eagle gold coin graded PF-65 CAM by PCGS – the only such piece in private hands – that sold for $4,620,000. The auction marked the first public offering of a collection that drew countless visitors when it was on public exhibition for two decades at the American Numismatic Association Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The next Long Beach Expo will be held Feb. 2-4, 2023, at the Long Beach, Calif., Convention Center. For more information, visit www.longbeachexpo.com/visitors.