CoinResource - 1913 Liberty Nickel Attracts Collectors To Santa Clara Expo

1913 Liberty Nickel Attracts Collectors To Santa Clara Expo

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(Santa Clara, CA) -- The display of the finest known 1913 Liberty Head nickel (PCGS PR66), backed by an extensive advertising and publicity campaign throughout the San Francisco Bay area, attracted collectors and the general public to the Santa Clara Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo, November 22 - 24. Total attendance during the three-day show was 4,611.

"It was standing room-only at the educational seminars conducted by eBay, and the United States Mint booth also was a popular attraction," said Ronald J. Gillio, Expo General Chairman.

Troy Thoreson, numismatic coordinator of San Jose-based eBay, presented two well-received seminars, "Buying & Selling on eBay," with about 100 people attending the Saturday presentation.

Another highlight of the show was the participation by San Francisco Mint representatives of the United States Mint who sold 2002 proof sets and other current items involving the popular 50 States Quarters(tm) program.

"Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc. conducted the largest 'Signature Sale' it has ever held in Santa Clara, more than 3,500 lots. It was a strong sale and generated about $4 million in winning bids," said Gillio.

Among the visitors to the show were Minqi Chai, President, and Keira Chen, Vice President, of China Great Wall Coins, Inc., a division of the China Mint, and Michael Chou of Tokyo, Chief Executive Officer of iAsure, a Japanese online auction management service company.

Prior to and during the show there were newspaper and television stories about the exhibit of the famous 1913 Liberty Head nickel owned by California collector and sports agent, Dwight Manley. Stories appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News and on CNN. Local television commercials and newspaper advertisements in the Bay area also featured the famous coin, insured for $3 million during its Santa Clara display.

"It appears many Northern California collectors realized the Santa Clara exhibit would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them to see one of the world's most famous rare coins in person," said Gillio.

More than 100 children participated in a "Kid's Treasure Hunt," conducted by the Cupertino Coin Club, co-host of the Expo.

"We'll be working with eBay and the local clubs to expand educational seminars and special exhibits at the next Santa Clara Expo, April 4 - 6, 2003," stated Gillio.

This was the first Santa Clara show conducted by the new owners of Expos Unlimited, the same team that produces the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expos.

"It was a very smooth transition, and the feedback from dealers was overwhelmingly positive. We had a different bourse floor layout, and there were no sports autograph sessions. The emphasis was on coins and bank notes, as well as stamps and other collectibles," said Gillio.

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS); Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC); Heritage Numismatic Auctions; eBay; UBS Numismatics/Art Banking; Yahoo! Auctions; British Royal Mint; Royal Spanish Mint; CoinFacts.com; Coin Link; and the World Money Fair of Basel, Switzerland are official corporate sponsors of the Expo.

For additional information about the next Santa Clara Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo, April 4 - 6, 2003, contact Expos Unlimited at (805) 962-9939, or visit the Web site at www.SantaClaraExpo.com.

News media contact: Ronald J. Gillio (805) 962-9939