Historic "Ship of Gold" Exhibit in Long Beach The "Ship of Gold" display showcasing $10 million of Gold Rush-era sunken treasure recovered from the 1857 shipwreck of the SS Central America will "dock" in Long Beach, CA, February 4 - 6, 2010.
News-Antique.com - Jan 18,2010 - (Long Beach, California) -- A $10 million exhibit of California Gold Rush sunken treasure recovered from the 1857 shipwreck of the SS Central America, the fabled "Ship of Gold," will be publicly displayed during the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo in the Long Beach Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Ave., February 4 - 6, 2010. The exhibit includes historic gold coins and huge gold bars -- one of them weighs over 50 pounds -- recovered from nearly 8,000 feet below the surface of the ocean.
The collector's show also features an exhibit of early American silver dollars and activities for young collectors. Many of the 1,000 dealers at the show will offer free, informal appraisals for the public's old coins, paper money, stamps and other collectibles.
"The Central America was carrying tons of California gold when she sank in a hurricane in September 1857 during a voyage from Panama to New York City. About $10 million of that gold will be exhibited in an eye-opening public display housed in a specially-constructed 40-foot long representation of the ship's hull," said Ronald J. Gillio, Expo General Chairman.
One of the most intriguing items in the display (see accompanying photo) is the remains of a wooden cargo box that still contains approximately 110 Double Eagles ($20 denomination gold coins) as they were found on the ocean floor.
The exhibit is courtesy of Monaco Rare Coins of Newport Beach and involved months of work to coordinate the display with collectors who privately own and now have generously loaned many of the items for the exhibit.
Bob Evans, the chief scientist on the 1980's mission that located and recovered the fabulous sunken treasure, will be at the exhibit each day during the show to meet with visitors and present educational programs about the Ship of Gold.
Visitors will also see an exhibit of early American silver half dollars minted from 1794 to 1832. Many of the superb-quality rare coins in the collection assembled by collector Dale Friend of Nevada and exhibited by Professional Coin Grading Service are the finest known of their kind.
A free gold coin will be awarded daily to a lucky, registered visitor.
A children's treasure hunt will be held on Saturday, February 6. Educational programs and collectors' clubs meetings will be conducted during the show and are open to the public. Heritage Auction Galleries of Dallas, Texas, the world's largest collectibles auction house, will hold a public sale of U.S. coins.
The public hours of the Long Beach Expo are Thursday and Friday, February 4 and 5, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, February 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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.LongBeachExpo.com.
For additional information, call Expos Unlimited at (805)
