‘Ship of Gold’ to Highlight Long Beach Expo

The Long Beach Expo opens its doors June 22 with the long-awaited “Ship of Gold” exhibit that has drawn thousands in years past. As the largest and oldest collectibles show on the West Coast, the Long Beach Expo will lure thousands of collectors who specialize in coins, bank notes, stamps, sports memorabilia and more from June 22 through June 24.

To mark the 35th anniversary of the historic 1988 discovery of “the greatest treasure ever found,” the exhibit will begin a nationwide educational tour with its first port-of-call at the Long Beach Expo.

The display of recovered California Gold Rush treasures from the 1857 sinking of the fabled S.S. Central America will feature gold coins, assayer’s ingots, gold nuggets and gold dust. There will also be a bank treasure shipment box, items from the ship, and recovered passengers’ artifacts including 166-year-old Cuban cigars and the world’s most valuable jeans – gold prospector’s heavy-duty work pants that sold at auction for $114,000 this past December.

“Many of the artifacts in the updated display have not previously been publicly exhibited,” said Adam Crum, president of Finest Known in Torrance, Calif. “But we also will have the return of the mammoth ‘Eureka Bar’ which is considered by many to be a priceless national treasure.

“The centerpiece and highlight of the exhibit, the assayer’s ingot nicknamed Eureka is the single largest gold artifact in existence from the California Gold Rush and the most famous and desirable artifact from what Life magazine called ‘The Greatest Treasure Ever Found.’ After its upcoming first public viewing in over 20 years, it will be toured around the globe in a Treasures From The Deep exhibit,” he said.

“The Eureka Bar weighs 933.94 Troy ounces, a little over 64 pounds. The ingot’s value in 1857 was stamped by San Francisco assayers Kellogg & Humbert as $17,433.57, but today it’s insured for $10 million,” explained Crum.

The Ship of Gold touring exhibit is being organized by Finest Known, Argos Gold Group, and National Treasures I, LLC. The exhibit is housed in a 40-foot-long recreation of the famous ship’s hull.

The exhibit also includes a prospector’s recovered saddle bag that contained gold coins, nuggets and gold dust. Visitors can see the only known complete treasure shipment box from the 1850s California Gold Rush period. An embossed wax seal on the box is still easily readable as “Alsop & Co.,” renowned merchants and gold treasure shippers of the era.

“We are so excited to welcome the ‘Ship of Gold’ back to the Long Beach Expo,” said Stephanie Sabin, president of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). “Seeing these gold coins and bars, in addition to other recovered artifacts ... will leave attendees in a state of awe.”

Among the other attractions at the expo are:

• On-site grading and authentication for coins and bank notes by PCGS

• On-site grading of sports cards and memorabilia by Professional Sports Authenticator

• Free Kids’ Treasure Hunt with prizes on Saturday, June 24

• Young Collector’s Corner with activities for YNs

• Daily giveaways of valuable coins, bank notes and sports collectibles

• Meet the Expert sessions with:

      • Steve Feltner, PCGS director of numismatic education & grading team leader

      • Philip Thomas, PCGS bank note specialist & research manager

      • Dan Wulkan of Memory Lane

Attendees can gain free admission to the Long Beach Expo with a PCGS Collectors Club membership, which is also required for all PCGS submissions. Those who are not members can join ahead of the convention by visiting www.pcgs.com/join.

Expo doors will be open from 10 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, and Friday, June 23, and 10 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 24. It will take place in Hall C of the Long Beach Convention Center, located at 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach, Calif. For complete details, visit www.longbeachexpo.com.