Daily Archives: January 19, 2009
February Long Beach Expo Marks Gillio’s 50th Anniversary
(Long Beach, California) – The next Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo, February 5 – 7, 2009, marks the 50th anniversary in numismatics for internationally-known Expo General Chairman, Ronald J. Gillio. The three-day show will be held at the Long Beach, California Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Ave.
"It was early 1959 when I saw my first Lincoln Memorial cent, the first year they were made, and I was curious about it. Ever since then numismatics has been a vital and enjoyable part of my life," said Gillio.
"My first collections – like everyone else – were mostly pennies and nickels. Living in Southern California when I’d go to my neighborhood banks in Southern California to get rolls of coins, I’d frequently find San Francisco mintmarks; coins that were scarce in other parts of the country."
Gillio said his Mother and Father, Sandy and Angie Gillio, were very supportive of his hobby, and were with him to celebrate the opening day of his first store on State Street in Santa Barbara, California in 1974.