Santa Clara Success, Expansion Plans Announced

The first four-day Santa Clara Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo (www.SantaClaraShow.com) was a success with dealers and collectors, according to Expo General Chairman, Ronald J. Gillio. The previously three-day show was held in the Santa Clara, California Convention Center, April 1 – 4, and plans have been made for increasing the number of annual Santa Clara shows from two to three events starting next year.

“We expanded the show from three to four days in length, and it worked very well starting with dealer set-up on Wednesday afternoon. Total attendance for the show was 3,928 dealers and collectors, with an especially strong public attendance on Thursday and Sunday,” said Gillio. “There also was nearly standing-room-only during the two ‘Buying and Selling on eBay’ seminars presented by eBay representative, Troy Thoreson.”

The two-session auction conducted by Superior Galleries of Beverly Hills in conjunction with the show generated nearly $2.2 million in sales, an increase of 128 percent over Superior’s auction a year earlier in Santa Clara.

“A magnificently toned 1926 Oregon Trail Commemorative Half Dollar coin realized an extraordinary $69,000 in competitive bidding,” and “was the star attraction of the session held on Saturday, April 3, 2004,” according to Superior spokesman Paul Biberkraut.

Bob Higgins of Rare Coin Alliance of Wilmington, Delaware praised the Santa Clara Expo as “a lively, well-attended show.”

“Santa Clara is a great venue with a nearby airport, reasonably priced hotels and good restaurants. Many shows we attend are in expensive locations and are not nearly as well-attended and easy to access as this one," Higgins said.

His partner, Don Ketterling, explained: “We manage a wholesale rare coin trading fund and our attendance at shows is primarily to source fresh material for our substantial retail marketers. Not only were we able to buy some great rarities, we were pleasantly surprised to find enthusiastic buyers at our table. Santa Clara continues to be a well-run and actively promoted show and we consider it a 'must' on our show schedule. Kudos to Ron Gillio and his staff for another well-run show."

Gillio estimated about 150 children participated in a bourse floor treasure hunt organized by retired Hollywood prop maker Darrell Crane, president of the Full Step Nickel Club, and the Cuppertino Coin Club. Crane wore a pirate’s costume to emphasize the “treasure” hunt theme.

The club also sponsored and organized an exhibits area.

In addition to expanding its length from three days to four, the Santa Clara Expo also will increase its frequency of annual shows to three starting next year. Gillio reported the bourse already is 50 percent sold for the added third show, July 21 – 24, 2005, to be held the weekend prior to the American Numismatic Association’s convention in nearby San Jose, California.

The next Santa Clara Expo will be held November 18 – 21, 2004. For additional information, contact Expos Unlimited, 1103 State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Phone: (805) 962-9939. Fax: (805) 963-0827 E-mail: scshow@exposunlimited.com.