The largest, busiest event in the history of the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo is planned for February 24 – 26, 2005, according to General Chairman Ronald J. Gillio. The three-day show will be held in the Long Beach, California Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Ave.

In addition to the upbeat numismatic marketplace, the impressive public line-up includes the Southern California introduction of new products by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing; several multi-million dollar special displays of rare coins and bank notes; and a dozen club meetings and educational programs.

Seminars include two informative seminars by eBay consultant, Troy Thoreson. Ancient coins specialist, David Michaels of Freeman-Sear, will dress in costume as a second-century Roman soldier for his presentation, “ Arms and the Man: Depictions of Ancient Military Equipment and Uniforms on Coins.”

“It will be a busy and exciting time for collectors and dealers,” said Gillio.

Here is a partial listing of the events and exhibits. A complete Schedule of Events can be found online at www.LongBeachShow.com.

• The BEP will sell for the first time in California its latest Lunar New Year “Prosperity Notes,” $1 and $5 denomination notes each beginning with four 8’s in the serial numbers. The BEP also will set up its popular “Billion Dollar Display” of high-denomination paper money, conduct plate printing demonstrations on a century-old, one-ton “spider” printing press, and display a proof example of the famous 1918 “Inverted Jenny” airmail stamp.

• Heritage Galleries, the official auctioneer for the Long Beach Expo, will conduct both Signature Sale and Bullet Sales. The auction includes the spectacular $2.5 million Bruce Scher Collection of PCGS Registry Sets and many other notable consignments.

• Special educational exhibits and displays are planned by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC); Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS); and on-site participation by Professional Stamp Experts (PSE).

NGC’s new paper money grading service will have a $6 million display that includes 60 $10,000 denomination notes from the Binion Collection courtesy of Spectrum Numismatics and 40 First National Bank of Nevada (Reno) $5 Series 1929 bank notes courtesy of Gillio. PCGS will have a $4.5 million “showdown” with side-by-side comparisons of the top three registered Barber half dollar sets.

Other special exhibits on the bourse floor include:

• The finest known 1894-S dime from the Richmond Collection courtesy of Mark Salzberg of NGC and John Feigenbaum of David Lawrence Rare Coins;

• The recently reported, unique 1755 Bogotá Mint 4-escudos from the Eliasberg Collection along with the other 2,800 Eliasberg world gold coins that recently emerged from a Baltimore bank;

• A genuine Inverted Jenny 24 ¢ airmail stamp (Scott C3a) valued at $200,000;

• Exhibits hosted by the Long Beach Coin Club and Long Beach Stamp Club.

“A gold coin door prize will awarded each day, and the extremely popular Kid’s Treasure Hunt will be conducted on Saturday, February 26,” said Gillio. “To mark the Lunar New Year, we’ll also have “lucky” limited edition $8 denomination casino chips from the Mandalay Bay, Excalibur and Monte Carlo casinos in Las Vegas.”

A private seminar for investors interested in rare coins and precious metals, the Sjuggerud Gold Conference, will be held in conjunction with the February Long Beach Expo.

In addition to eBay and Heritage, other Expo sponsors include eBay, Heritage, PCGS, NGC, British Royal Mint, Spanish Royal Mint, UBS Numismatics/Art Banking, World Money Fair of Basel, Switzerland and Coin Facts.com.

Show hours are Thursday and Friday, February 24 and 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, February 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (The show is closed on Sunday.)

Admission is $8 (good for all three days); $4 for seniors 65 and older. Admission for coin and stamp club members (with valid membership card) is $5. Free admission for children aged seven and younger.