Find Out What’s New for Numismatists at Coin Convention

Every four months, Kirk Kelly flies to Long Beach from his home in South Carolina to separate tall stacks of coins into shorter stacks. He does it for a living, although he admits taking time out for dining and poolside lounging.

That’s because Kelly knows what he’s looking for. On Thursday morning, he selected 50 $20 gold coins from among stacks of several hundred in a matter of minutes.

His budget for the four-day convention? Tens of thousands of dollars, he says, all of which will return in coin form to his dealership back home.

So go the livelihoods of hard-core numismatists converging this weekend for the Long Beach Coin and Collectibles Expo, the largest U.S. convention of its kind.

Of course, not everyone is as enamored with coins. That’s why almost 1,000 dealers from across the country are also there offering everything from stamps and antique Valentines to jewelry and silverware.

“If you can think of it, somebody’s collecting it,” dealer Brian Sager said. “They’re even dealing in Nike sneakers now.”

Returning to Long Beach three times a year since 1978, the show features special exhibits to attract newcomers. This weekend the $4 entrance fee buys a peek at the U.S. Treasury Department’s display of $1 billion in rare bills and stamps.

The convention is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.