What Everybody Ought to Know About Coin Collecting

(Fallbrook, California) - The Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) will conduct a series of free, educational “Share the Knowledge” seminars for collectors and dealers at coin shows around the country during 2008. The first in the series of programs will be held during the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo in February.

“The PNG has a responsibility to provide leadership for the growth of this fabulous hobby and profession. Our organization’s motto is ‘Knowledge, Integrity, Responsibility,’ and these educational seminars during the coming year will be one way we will share the knowledge from some of the country’s top numismatic experts,” said PNG President Gary Adkins of Edina, Minnesota.

The first seminar will be conducted at Noon on Thursday, February 14, 2008 in room 102-A of the Long Beach, California Convention and Entertainment Center as part of the Long Beach Expo. The one-hour program about collecting United States gold coins will be led by two well-known numismatic researchers, authors and PNG members: Jeff C. Garrett of Lexington, Kentucky and Douglas A. Winter of Portland, Oregon.

A free, light lunch will be included for audience members.

Garrett is the author or co-author of several numismatic books including Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins.

Winter has written a series of books on branch mint U.S. gold coins including Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint, 1838 - 1861.

“Knowledge is the best protection for consumers and educating the consumer is our message. We would like to have these Share the Knowledge forums at every major show in 2008 because we want collectors to know what they’re buying as well as who they’re buying from,” explained Garrett, PNG’s immediate past president.

In addition to the Long Beach Expo, PNG Share the Knowledge educational seminars will be conducted at other major shows around the country in 2008 including the Whitman Baltimore Coin & Currency Conventions; the Central States Numismatic Society convention; Summer Florida United Numismatists convention; the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money and the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Atlanta Expo. The dates, times and locations will be announced prior to each event.

Adkins said additional consumer education projects will be unveiled during the upcoming year including expansion of the PNG’s web site, www.PNGdealers.com, to include more consumer information and videos about collecting and investing.