Giant Gold Rush Ingots at Long Beach Expo

(Long Beach, California) — Two huge California Gold Rush era assayers’ ingots, recovered from the fabled SS Central America and with a combined weight of over 100 pounds of gold, will be exhibited at the next Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo, September 10 – 12, 2009, in the Long Beach, California Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Ave.

"The display will feature a Kellogg & Humbert gold bar that weighs 662.28 ounces and a Justh & Hunter ingot that is 598.08 Troy ounces.

Both were recovered in the late 1980’s from the Central America, the legendary ‘Ship of Gold’ that was carrying tons of California Gold Rush coins and ingots to New York City when it sank during a hurricane in 1857," said Ronald J. Gillio, Expo General Chairman.

The Kellogg & Humbert gold bar is stamped as number 804 and with a value in 1857 of $12,225.62. It is the fourth largest gold bar among the 532 ingots recovered from the Central America. The Justh & Hunter ingot is #4255 and marked at the time as $11,089.95.

The historic ingots will be displayed by Monaco Rare Coins of Newport Beach, California.

"The exhibit also will include some of the finest known Augustus Humbert $50 denomination octagonal ’slugs’ produced in San Francisco during the height of the Gold Rush," said Adam Crum, Monaco Vice President. "These colossal gold bars and big $50 coins, literally, are treasures of Wild West history."

During the three-day Long Beach Expo more than 1,000 dealers will be buying and selling rare coins, paper money, stamps, postcards, historic documents, antiques, estate jewelry and other collectibles. Some will provide free, informal appraisals for visitors.

A free gold coin will be awarded daily to a lucky, registered visitor. Young numismatists’ activities including a children’s treasure hunt will be held on Saturday, September 12.

A half dozen educational programs and collectors’ clubs meetings will be conducted during the show. Heritage Auction Galleries of Dallas, Texas, the world’s largest collectibles auction house, will hold a public sale of U.S. and world coins and paper money.

The public hours of the Long Beach Expo are Thursday and Friday, September 10 and 11, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (The show is closed on Sunday.) A complete Schedule of Events is online at www.LongBeachShow.com.

General admission is $6 (good for all three days); $4 for members of any coin or stamp club who display a valid membership card; and $3 for seniors 65 and older. Free admission for children ages seven and younger. Discount coupons are available online at www.LongBeachShow.com.

For additional information, call Expos Unlimited at (805) 962-9939. Between September 9 and 12, call the Long Beach Convention Center at (562) 436-3636.

The Long Beach Expo is a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT).

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