03/07/2011 | 27m 5s | Video has closed captioning.
Huell attends the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo where a recently-discovered 100-ounce gold nugget is on public display. The “Washington Nugget” is the largest verifiable California gold nugget in existence. We also meet with the colorful dealers and collectors who make this expo so unique.
Aired: 03/07/11
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>> "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] >> WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER.
GET READY FOR AN ADVENTURE, BECAUSE WE'RE HERE AT THE 48th ANNUAL WINTER LONG BEACH COIN, STAMP, AND COLLECTIBLES EXPO.
LOTS OF COINS, LOTS OF STAMPS, LOT OF COLLECTIBLES.
AND THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE HERE THAT WHEN YOU SEE IT, IT'S GONNA BLOW YOUR MIND.
YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THIS THING UNTIL YOU'RE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH IT.
THAT'S COMING TOWARD THE END OF THE PROGRAM.
I HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, EITHER.
BUT I GUARANTEE YOU WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF FUN HERE AT THIS EXPO SEEING THE COINS, THE STAMPS, THE COLLECTIBLES, AND THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE AT THE VERY END.
HERE WE GO.
OK, THE ADVENTURE BEGINS.
WE'VE COME INSIDE THE EXPO.
AND IMMEDIATELY I'VE COME OVER TO A COUPLE.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT MONEY OVER HERE.
>> YES.
I'M LOOKING AT THINGS FROM MY COLLECTION--THE OLD NOTES.
>> NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.
THIS JUST LOOKS LIKE A--LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.
THIS JUST LOOKS LIKE A $10 BILL TO ME.
>> WELL, THIS IS ACTUALLY AN OLD $10 BILL.
IT'S 1950 SERIES.
IT'S BEEN GRADED AS A GEM 67.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> CONDITION-WISE, IT'S ONE OF THE TOP CONDITIONS.
>> SO YOU'RE TALKING TALK THAT-- MOST OF US IF WE JUST GOT A 10, WOULD PUT IT IN OUR POCKET AND WALK OFF WITH IT.
HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU GOT TIED UP IN THIS THING?
>> UM, I'VE GOT--I'VE GOT A LOT.
I'VE BEEN COLLECTING FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS, SO.
>> HOW MUCH MONEY HAS HE GOT TIED UP?
>> A LOT.
>> LOOK AT ALL THIS PAPER MONEY.
THERE'S MORE MONEY HERE THAN THEY'VE GOT IN SACRAMENTO.
YOU BETTER NOT LET THE LEGISLATURE SEE ALL THIS MONEY.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
HERE'S A COUPLE OF GOLD COINS HERE.
>> OH, LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.
NOW, WHAT'S THE DEAL ON THESE COINS?
>> THOSE ARE $20 GOLD PIECES.
AND THEY WERE USED AS MONEY UP UNTIL MR. ROOSEVELT.
HE TOOK THOSE OUT OF CIRCULATION.
>> RIGHT.
SO THESE WERE ACTUALLY--PEOPLE USED TO SPEND GOLD COINS.
>> EXACTLY.
EXACTLY.
>> THAT'S WHEN SOMETHING WAS WORTH WHAT IT SAID ON THE FRONT.
>> GOOD AS GOLD.
CALIFORNIA GOLD.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
BEFORE WE LEFT, JOHN WAS TRYING TO GET ME EXCITED ABOUT ALL THESE--BOY, THESE SILVER DOLLARS.
IT FEELS GOOD IN YOUR HAND, DOESN'T IT?
>> IT SURE DOES.
AND THESE CIRCULATED UNTIL THE MIDDLE 1960s.
THE PRICE OF SILVER WENT--WENT OVER THE FACE VALUE, AND THEN THEY ALL-- >> SO WAIT A MINUTE.
ARE THESE REAL SILVER?
>> REAL SILVER, YEAH.
>> 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT REAL SILVER ANYMORE, ARE THEY?
>> OH, NO, NO.
AFTER THE 1960s, THE PRICE OF SILVER GOT--WAS WORTH MORE THAN THE AMOUNT OF SILVER IN THE COINS, SO EVERYBODY SAVED THEM.
>> BOY, THESE FEEL GOOD, THEY LOOK GOOD.
THEY'RE SHINY.
AND YOU'RE SELLING THEM FOR HOW MUCH APIECE?
>> $30.
30 AMERICAN.
>> $30 APIECE FOR A SILVER DOLLAR.
THAT SHOWS YOU HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
>> EXACTLY.
THEY USED TO--THEY WERE USED IN THE CASINOS UP UNTIL THE MIDDLE 1960s.
YOU COULD GET THEM IN THE CASINOS.
>> FROM SILVER DOLLARS, WE HAVE COME TO A LADY WHO CALLS HERSELF-- >> THE PENNY LADY.
>> THE PENNY LADY.
WHAT'S THE DEAL, PENNY LADY?
>> WELL, I SELL PENNIES.
I SELL INDIAN CENTS, LINCOLNS, AND EARLY AMERICAN COPPER.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, AS A KID, I COLLECTED PENNIES.
I PUT THEM IN THOSE BLUE FOLDERS AND COLLECTED THEM.
>> WE HAVE THOSE.
>> YEAH.
WELL, GET ME EXCITED ABOUT PENNIES.
SHOW ME A PENNY I COULD ACTUALLY SPEND.
PULL SOMETHING OUT.
>> THERE'S A REALLY PRETTY ONE.
YOU CAN SEE THE COLORS ON IT.
>> LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.
>> AN INDIAN PENNY.
>> NOW, THE INDIAN PENNIES WERE AROUND FROM WHEN TO WHEN?
>> 1859 TO 1909.
>> SO IF YOU FIND AN INDIAN PENNY OF ANY AGE, IT'S GONNA BE WORTH A PRETTY-- >> NOT NECESSARILY.
THE LATER DATES THAT ARE IN CIRCULATION ARE ONLY WORTH A COUPLE OF DOLLARS, MAYBE.
>> UH-HUH.
>> BUT THIS ONE WAS SAVED FROM THE BEGINNING, SO IT'S NEVER SEEN--BEEN TOUCHED AND HANDLED, SO IT'S WORTH SOME MORE MONEY.
>> HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH?
>> WELL, WITH THE TONING ON THIS, IT'S PROBABLY WORTH A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
>> SO IS IT NEGOTIABLE WHEN YOU COME UP HERE?
>> EVERYTHING'S NEGOTIABLE.
>> EVERYTHING'S NEGOTIABLE.
>> HUELL, YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING, BECAUSE I LIKE THAT NEGOTIABLE.
>> ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT THE LOWLY PENNY IS STILL A HOT ITEM?
>> IT IS.
IT'S THE BASIS FOR COLLECTING.
I MEAN, KIDS START COLLECTING PENNIES.
AND SO, A LOT OF THEM STAY WITH IT OR PUT IT ASIDE AND THEN COME BACK TO IT LATER.
BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS GONNA BE POPULAR.
>> WISE WORDS FROM THE PENNY LADY.
THERE SHE IS RIGHT THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE PENNY LADY, WITH ALL HER EXPENSIVE INDIAN HEAD PENNIES, WE GOT A BOX--BOXES LOAD OF PENNIES.
WHAT'S SO SPECIAL?
THESE JUST LOOK LIKE PENNY PENNIES.
>> WELL, THEY ARE PENNY PENNIES.
BUT THEY ALSO HAVE SPECIFIC DATES, AND THEIR CONDITION--THERE'S SOME SILVER PENNIES IN THERE.
AND THIS BOX OVER HERE HAS FOREIGN.
AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND, LET'S SAY 200, 300, $400 ON A PENNY, YOU COME AND LOOK FOR YOUR DATE IN HERE TO FILL YOUR SET.
>> AND SEE, THIS WOULD BE FUN BECAUSE YOU'RE REALLY JUST RUMMAGING THROUGH THESE BOXES.
>> THE KIDS LOVE THAT.
THAT FILLS THEIR SET.
>> YEAH.
I HAD A--I COLLECTED PENNIES WHEN I WAS A KID.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S HOW YOU BECOME A COIN DEALER LIKE ALL THE PEOPLE IN HERE.
YOU START AS A LITTLE KID.
>> BOX HERE.
WE GOT A BOX HERE.
THESE ARE PENNY PENNIES.
THERE ARE--WHAT ARE THESE?
QUARTERS?
>> THESE IN HERE--THESE ARE ALL FOREIGN.
FOREIGN COINS.
>> SEE, THIS IS HOW YOU GET HOOKED, ISN'T IT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND THIS IS HOW EVERYBODY WATCHING FROM NOW ON IS GONNA START LOOKING AT THEIR PENNIES IN THEIR POCKETS.
>> THEY SURE DO.
AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET YOUR KIDS TO BE FUTURE COIN DEALERS.
YOU START THEM OFF LITTLE, AND THEN LITTLE BY LITTLE, THEN THEY COME IN.
AND I'VE SEEN KIDS WHERE THEY KNOW MORE THAN THE PARENTS.
>> YEAH.
ARE YOU A PENNY PINCHER?
>> WELL, IF YOU ASK ME, I SAY NO.
HA HA HA.
I HAVE TO BE HONEST, NO.
>> WELL, IF YOU'RE GONNA BE-- >> MY HUSBAND WOULD LOVE IT IF I WAS.
>> A PENNY PINCHER?
>> YES.
>> IF YOU'RE GONNA DO ANYTHING WITH PENNIES, THIS IS THE PLACE.
LOOK AT THIS.
ONE LAST PENNY SHOT.
>> WE ALSO DO HAVE THE ONES THAT ARE HIGHER GRADE.
>> YEAH, BUT I LIKE GOING THROUGH THE PENNY BOX.
>> OH, YEAH.
THAT'S JUST LIKE OUR LITTLE--I CALL THIS THE TREASURE CHEST.
>> WHAT'S THIS?
>> THIS IS EVERY DIFFERENT TYPE OF COIN.
YOU JUST HAVE TO DIG YOUR WAY THROUGH.
AND YOU LOOK FOR WHAT YOU WANT.
AND THIS COULD TAKE HOURS.
>> SEE, THIS IS FUN RIGHT HERE.
>> THAT'S LIKE A TREASURE CHEST.
>> THIS IS FUN.
THIS IS LIKE A SCAVENGER HUNT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I'VE HAD PEOPLE SIT THERE LITERALLY HOURS.
AND THEY WILL LOOK AT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE COINS AND HAVE A LITTLE PILE OF THEIR LITTLE TREASURES.
>> WELL, DON'T BE OFFENDED, BUT WE GOTTA MOVE ON.
>> ALL RIGHTY.
IT WAS WONDERFUL TALKING TO YOU.
>> NICE TALKING WITH YOU.
MOVING ON, HERE'S A GUY WHO'S GOT A BUCKET FULL OF THE OLD COINS THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO PICK THROUGH, BUT LOOK WHAT ELSE HE'S GOT.
HE'S GOT LOOSE PAPER MONEY.
WHAT'S THE DEAL HERE?
>> WELL, THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE CHEAPIES.
THOSE ARE THE MORE COMMON ONES.
>> SOME OF THE CHEAPIES?
>> OH, YEAH.
QUARTER APIECE RIGHT THERE.
>> YOU'RE KIDDING.
>> YEP.
>> WHY ARE THEY SO--OH, WELL, THESE AREN'T AMERICAN.
>> NO.
IT'S ALL WORLD CURRENCY.
I'VE GOT--I SPECIALIZE IN FOREIGN CURRENCY.
I'VE GOT IT FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
>> WAIT A MINUTE.
WAIT A MINUTE.
>> SOME OF THEM'S REAL, REAL OLD.
>> HERE'S A WHOLE PACKET OF... >> WHAT THESE ARE ARE JAPANESE INVASION MONEY.
JAPAN ISSUED THESE FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF THEM.
THESE ARE FOR THE PHILIPPINES BACK IN 1943.
QUARTER APIECE RIGHT THERE.
>> WOW.
I WOULD THINK JUST AS A PIECE OF HISTORY THEY'D BE WORTH MORE THAN THAT.
THEY JUST MUST HAVE ISSUED A LOT OF THEM.
>> I GOT QUITE A FEW OF THEM.
THERE'S SOME OF THEM THAT START OFF AT A QUARTER.
THERE'S SOME THAT GO INTO SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS.
>> CAN YOU BRING OUT THE HEAVY DUTY EXPENSIVE STUFF?
>> YEAH, SURE.
>> CAN YOU BRING OUT SOMETHING?
BOY, HE'S GOT--LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF HERE.
OH, BOY.
NOW WE'RE GOING INTO THE HEAVY DUTY STUFF.
WHAT HAVE WE GOT RIGHT HERE?
LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.
>> THAT'S A 1944 PHILIPPINES 500 PESO.
YOU GOT TO KEEP IN MIND, 1944 IN THE PHILIPPINES, 500 PESOS WAS 250 U.S.
DOLLARS.
SO IT WAS QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.
NOT MANY OF THEM STILL EXIST.
>> DO PEOPLE COLLECT THESE?
IS THIS WORTH ANYTHING?
YOU COULDN'T SPEND THIS TODAY.
>> I'M ASKING $5,000 FOR THAT ONE.
>> WHAT?
HERE, TAKE IT BACK.
I'M GETTING SWEATY PALMS.
$5,000 FOR THIS?
>> YEP.
FINEST ONE AT THE SHOW.
>> THAT'S WHY YOU'VE GOT IT LAMINATED.
>> IT'S NOT LAMINATED, IT'S JUST IN A HOLDER.
>> YEAH, BUT YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE TOUCHING IT.
>> DEFINITELY NOT.
>> AND WAIT A MINUTE.
HERE'S ONE SHOT FULL OF HOLES.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S WHEN THEY DECIDED TO DEMONETIZE ALL THE MONEY WHEN THE JAPANESE INVADED THE PHILIPPINES BACK IN '41.
AND ANYTHING OF VALUE WAS IMMEDIATELY CUT CANCELLED LIKE THAT SO IT WOULDN'T BE WORTH ANYTHING.
NOBODY COULD SPEND IT ANYMORE.
>> SEE, THIS--WHEN YOU COLLECT MONEY, WHETHER IT'S COINS OR PAPER MONEY, IT'S LIKE A HISTORY LESSON, ISN'T IT?
>> OH, EXACTLY.
AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET STARTED.
YOU START LOOKING AT ALL THE HISTORY OF EVERYTHING.
>> IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE AN ADDICTION, ISN'T IT?
>> OH, YEAH.
DEFINITELY.
>> ARE YOU ADDICTED?
>> I WOULD SAY I'VE BEEN ADDICTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
>> THEY START YOUNG.
YOUR NAME IS?
>> I'M SAWYER.
>> OK. ARE YOU A STAMP OR COIN COLLECTOR?
>> I COLLECT COINS.
>> WHAT KIND OF COINS?
>> I LIKE COLLECTING 1800s AMERICAN SILVER COINS.
>> SO YOU'RE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOU COLLECT?
>> YEAH, BUT I LIKE TO SPICE THINGS UP A BIT.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN, SPICE THINGS UP?
>> LIKE, I'M NOT REALLY SPECIFIC LIKE SOME OTHER PEOPLE.
I'LL TAKE IT IF IT'S INTERESTING AND HAS A BROAD HISTORY.
>> SO IF IT CATCHES YOUR FANCY.
>> YES.
PRETTY MUCH.
>> WHEN I COLLECTED, I JUST COLLECT PENNIES, NICKELS, AND DIMES.
THAT'S OK, ISN'T IT?
>> YEAH, THAT'S FINE.
>> THAT'S NOT SPICY ENOUGH FOR YOU, THOUGH, IS IT?
>> NO.
I LIKE MORE... >> INTERESTING STUFF.
>> LIKE THE HISTORY BEHIND IT.
YEAH.
>> YEAH.
WELL, I PREDICT BIG THINGS FOR THIS YOUNG MAN.
STICK WITH IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW I'VE RUN INTO 2 GUYS REPRESENTING THE-- >> THE ORANGE COUNTY COIN CLUB.
>> COIN CLUB.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> SO YOU ALL ARE HARDCORE.
>> PRETTY MUCH.
>> HARDCORE COIN PEOPLE.
>> VERY MUCH, VERY MUCH.
>> NUMISMATISTS.
>> YOU'RE WHAT?
>> NUMISMATISTS.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> THAT'S SOMEONE WHO COLLECTS AND STUDIES COINS AND CURRENCY AND MONEY OF ALL KINDS.
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE THAT, MUCH LESS SPELL IT.
BUT YOU'RE A--NEW-- >> A NUMISMATIST.
>> NUMIS-MIS-MA.
ALL RIGHT.
AND YOU'RE HOLDING A COIN.
WHAT KIND OF--YOU'RE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE.
>> I AM.
WELL, I COLLECT COINS OF MEXICO.
AND THIS IS A TEN CENTAVO PIECE FROM 1904.
>> HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH?
>> AND I PAID $22 FOR IT.
>> AND ARE YOU BUYING IT JUST TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION OR TO MAKE SOME MONEY OR WHAT?
>> I BOUGHT IT FOR MY COLLECTION, YES.
>> DO YOU HAVE A BIG COLLECTION?
>> PRETTY BIG.
>> DO YOU HAVE A BIG COLLECTION?
>> YES.
I'M BIG INTO JAPANESE COINS.
>> COINS.
>> YES.
>> ARE THEY VALUABLE?
ARE YOU GONNA GET RICH?
>> UH, EVENTUALLY, HOPEFULLY, BUT HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF ORANGE COUNTY COIN CLUB.
>> AHH.
>> YEAH.
>> ISN'T THAT INTERESTING THAT EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN LITTLE NICHE.
YOURS IS MEXICAN COINS.
>> I'M A JAPANESE.
>> YOURS ARE JAPANESE COINS.
>> CORRECT.
YEAH.
>> EVERYBODY IS ATTRACTED TO A DIFFERENT THING FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.
>> CORRECT.
AND THIS IS THE PLACE TO FIND STUFF YOU CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT HERE, YOU CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE ELSE, CAN YOU?
>> PRETTY MUCH.
>> LONG BEACH STAMP CLUB, ESTABLISHED 1926.
AND, FELLAS, THIS IS EXACTLY--YOU'RE EXACTLY THE GUYS I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.
LOOK WHAT I DID.
I BROUGHT MY OLD STAMP COLLECTION THAT I HAD AS A KID.
IT'S BEEN UP ON THE CLOSET SHELF FOR A LONG TIME.
>> OK. WELL, I-- >> BUT I FIGURED THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO--LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.
LOOK DOWN HERE AT SOME OF MY--BOY, LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF.
THIS IS JUST LOOSE STUFF.
LOOK.
NOW, I'VE GOT SOME NICE THINGS FROM GIBRALTAR, THE GILBERT AND ELLIS ISLANDS.
I USED TO WRITE--OH, LOOK AT THESE.
FROM GRANADA.
FROM THE GOLD COAST.
A LOT OF THESE COUNTRIES DON'T EVEN EXIST ANYMORE.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
>> SO, DO YOU THINK AT FIRST GLANCE THAT I'M GONNA BE A RICH MAN BY SELLING SOME OF THESE STAMPS TODAY?
OR ARE THESE JUST RUN OF THE MILL, ORDINARY--SOME OF THEM LOOK PRETTY GOOD TO ME.
>> THEY LOOK PRETTY GOOD.
BUT-- >> HE'S NOT VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
HA HA HA!
COME ON, I WAS HOPING THIS WAS GONNA MEAN SOMETHING TO ME FINANCIALLY.
>> SOME OF THEM MIGHT.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO REALLY GET IN AND CHECK THEM ALL OUT.
YOU'VE GOT TO CHECK THE CATALOGUES.
THE PRICE HAS GONE UP ON SOME.
AND ON OTHERS, THE PRICE HAS GONE DOWN.
>> 'CAUSE LOOK AT THESE.
LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.
THIS IS A--THIS IS A NICE--LOOK AT THESE WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH.
THOSE ARE NICE.
SURELY, THEY'RE--LOOK AT THESE.
SURELY THESE ARE WORTH SOMETHING.
>> YEAH, THEY'RE WORTH FACE VALUE.
>> FACE VALUE?
>> YEAH.
>> THAT'S IT?
>> THE PRICE ON THE STAMP.
>> BUT THE EXPERIENCE OF COLLECTING THEM IS PRICELESS.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE, ISN'T IT?
>> THAT'S WHY IT'S ALL HERE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE DO THIS WITH THE CHILDREN.
WE HAVE A--ON SATURDAYS, THEY COME, WE HAVE DRAWINGS, AND WE INTRODUCE THEM TO STAMP COLLECTING SO THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT THE WORLD AND LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT-- >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID.
THESE COUNTRIES, YOU'D LOOK THEM UP ON THE MAP WHERE YOU WERE GETTING YOUR STAMPS FROM.
IT WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
>> YES.
>> DO KIDS STILL COLLECT STAMPS?
>> YES, THEY DO.
VERY MUCH SO.
>> REALLY?
>> YES.
>> EVEN WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THEY STILL COLLECT STAMPS?
>> YES.
YES.
>> OK, WE'VE COME ACROSS THE WAY, AND I'VE MET UP WITH?
>> CAMILLE NICHOLAS.
>> OK. NOW, THE REASON I'M HERE WITH YOU, CAMILLE, IS I HAVE BROUGHT MY STAMP COLLECTION OVER TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE PERSON WHO VERIFIES STAMPS AND COINS.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY VERIFY?
>> WE CERTIFY THE AUTHENTICITY OF THEM AND THE CONDITION OF THEM.
>> THEY'RE NOT COUNTERFEIT STAMPS, ARE THEY?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
AND YOU WANT TO WATCH TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T GET YOUR FINGERPRINTS ON THE BACK OF THAT.
>> SEE, I JUST PICKED THIS ONE UP.
I'M SORRY.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GET YOUR BODY GREASE ON HERE, DO YOU, OR ANYTHING.
ALL RIGHT, BUT JUST FROM LOOKING AT THAT STAMP OUT OF MY COLLECTION, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK?
>> WELL, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE CENTERING OF THE STAMP, THE FRESHNESS OF THE COLOR, AND THEN TURN IT AROUND, LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE STAMP, MAKE SURE THERE'S NO FAULTS ON IT.
>> WELL, NONE OF THESE STAMPS ARE FRESH.
TRUST ME.
THEY'VE BEEN UP ON THE SHELF FOR A LONG TIME.
>> WE DON'T CERTIFY JUST FRESH STAMPS.
WE GOT SOME REAL OLD ONES COMING THROUGH.
>> SO DO YOU THINK I'M ONTO ANYTHING HERE?
DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANY--I'M TRYING TO GET A SECOND OPINION.
LOOK AT ALL THIS.
>> I THINK YOU SHOULD PUT YOUR COLLECTION TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT NEATER.
HA HA HA!
>> WELL.
>> THERE'S A COLLECTIBLE FOR EVERYBODY.
>> AND THEY BRING BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES, AND THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I THINK WE FOUND THE COLLECTIBLE PART OF THE SHOW.
THIS LOOKS LIKE A DISPLAY OF, WELL, COLLECTIBLES.
>> A LOT OF ESTATE AND ANTIQUE JEWELRY.
THINGS FROM ALL DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS.
GOT EVERYTHING FROM SILVER TO GOLD TO DIAMONDS TO PLATINUM JEWELRY.
>> AND IT'S ALL THE REAL STUFF?
>> AND THE ANTIQUE STERLING SILVERWARE.
AND IT'S ALL THE REAL STUFF.
>> SO YOU'RE SITTING HERE SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR.
>> I'M SITTING HERE BUYING.
I DON'T TRUST STOCKS, I DON'T TRUST OIL, I DON'T TRUST REAL ESTATE, BUT I TRUST GOLD.
>> LOOK AT WHAT SHE'S GOT RIGHT HERE.
NOW, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
WHAT CAUGHT YOUR EYE RIGHT HERE?
LOOK AT THIS.
>> I LIKE THE TRUE VICTORIAN AND GEORGIAN PIECES.
THIS IS AN ANTIQUE BRACELET FROM ABOUT 1870 TO 1890.
>> CAN YOU AFFORD THAT?
I MEAN, I DON'T MEAN TO BE PERSONAL, BUT THAT'S A BIG INVESTMENT.
>> WELL, IF YOU WANT TO BE PERSONAL, MY BANKER IS STANDING OVER THERE, AND HE LIKES TO TELL PEOPLE I HAD TO SLEEP WITH MY BANKER TO GET BACKING.
>> THAT'S YOUR HUSBAND, I HOPE.
>> THAT'S MY HUSBAND OF 43 YEARS.
>> SO YOU LIKE TO SEE CUSTOMERS COME IN LIKE THIS, DON'T YOU?
>> THIS IS MY FAVORITE KIND OF CUSTOMER.
>> WOW.
>> BUYS IN BULK.
YEAH.
>> OH, WOW.
>> AND THIS IS MY DAUGHTER.
SHE INHERITED THE SHOPPING GENE FROM ME.
>> SO YOU'VE GOT THE ADDICTION AS WELL.
>> I'M THIRD GENERATION.
>> WOW.
OF PEOPLE ADDICTED TO-- >> WELL, MY GRANDMA STARTED IT AND THEN MY MOM AND NOW MYSELF.
>> AND WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS ADDICTION?
YOU'RE ADDICTED TO WHAT?
>> HA HA HA!
>> JEWELRY.
>> GOLD.
THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT.
AND YOU GET TO WEAR IT, TOO.
>> WE HAVE HIT THE JACKPOT.
>> YES.
>> WE HAVE FOUND GOLD.
YOUR NAME, SIR, IS?
>> RON GILLEO.
>> YOU'RE THE CHAIR OF THIS SHOW.
>> I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LONG BEACH COIN AND COLLECTIBLE EXPO HERE IN LONG BEACH.
>> AND YOU CAME UP TO ME AND SAID WHAT?
>> I HAVE A GOLD COIN FROM THE GOLD THAT WAS FOUND AT SUTTER'S MILL MADE INTO A COIN BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IN 1848.
>> A REAL PIECE OF CALIFORNIA'S GOLD.
>> CALIFORNIA GOLD STRUCK BY THE U.S. MINT.
A $2.50 GOLD COIN, WHICH THEY MADE.
BUT THIS IS SPECIAL.
THEY PUT C-A-L ABOVE THE EAGLE TO MEAN CALIFORNIA GOLD.
>> WOW.
AND THIS IS IT RIGHT HERE.
>> RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT HERE.
IT SAYS "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," 2.5 DOLLAR.
THE FAMOUS EAGLE.
>> LET'S PUT THIS DOWN SO WE CAN SEE IT.
BOY, THAT IS AMAZING.
>> C-A-L. CALIFORNIA.
>> HOW MUCH IS THIS WORTH?
I HATE TO BE CRASS, BUT.
>> I THINK, WHAT, 55,000.
>> 55,000!
>> DOLLARS.
NOT PESOS.
>> LOOK AT HIM SMILING HERE.
NOW, LET'S SAY I WANT SOMETHING A LITTLE SMALLER.
THESE ARE SMALLER.
WHAT ARE THESE ABOUT?
>> THESE ARE CALIFORNIA FRACTIONAL GOLD COINS.
THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF COINS IN CIRCULATION DURING THE GOLD RUSH 'CAUSE EVERYBODY WAS RUSHING TO THE GOLD RUSH FROM THE EAST COAST.
SO THIS SAYS CALIFORNIA GOLD.
THIS IS A $1.00 STRUCK IN 1854 BY A PRIVATE MINT IN SAN FRANCISCO DURING THE GOLD RUSH.
>> CAN I AFFORD THIS?
HOW MUCH IS IT?
>> THIS IS ABOUT $700.
>> OH, NOW YOU'RE GETTING A LITTLE CLOSER.
WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THESE SMALLER ONES?
WHAT IS THIS ONE?
>> WELL, THIS ONE HERE IS AN 1871 QUARTER.
IT'S A QUARTER DOLLAR.
>> A QUARTER?
>> YEAH, A QUARTER DOLLAR IN GOLD.
AND HERE'S AN 1870 QUARTER DOLLAR IN GOLD.
THESE ARE ALL FRACTIONAL GOLD COINS MADE IN SAN FRANCISCO BY PRIVATE MINTS THAT WERE AUTHORIZED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.
>> BOY, THEY'RE SO LITTLE.
YOU COULD DROP THESE.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY KEPT THEM IN A LITTLE POUCH, A LITTLE GOLD POUCH WITH THEIR GOLD NUGGETS AND THEIR GOLD DUST.
THIS IS WHAT THEY DID.
>> BOY, THESE ARE REAL COLLECTOR ITEMS.
>> VERY HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER COLLECTOR'S ITEMS.
THE CALIFORNIA FRACTIONAL GOLD COINS.
>> OK, HERE'S THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM.
IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS.
YOUR NAME, SIR, IS?
>> FRED HOLABIRD.
>> OK, WE JUST FINISHED LOOKING AT SOME CALIFORNIA'S GOLD COINS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> FROM BACK IN THE MID 1800s.
BUT YOU'VE TAKEN IT ONE STEP FURTHER.
PULL OUT, CAMERON, AND LET'S REVEAL WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE.
IT'S UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
HE'S OPENING UP THE-- LOOK AT THIS.
OH!
OH!
OH!
>> IT'S HEAVY NOW.
>> OH, MY.
CAN I HOLD IT IN ONE HAND?
OH, MY GOSH.
LOOK.
I'M GETTING SWEATY JUST HOLDING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
WHAT'S THE--FIRST OFF, THIS IS GOLD, ISN'T IT?
>> IT'S GOLD.
>> OH!
>> 100 OUNCES.
THE LARGEST VERIFIABLE CALIFORNIA GOLD NUGGET IN EXISTENCE.
FOUND IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR.
ONE IN A BILLION FIND.
>> WHERE DID--HOW DID THEY FIND IT?
WHERE DID THEY FIND IT?
>> A PROPERTY OWNER FOUND IT ON HIS PROPERTY OUT WITH A METAL DETECTOR.
HE'S NOT A PROSPECTOR.
>> WAIT A MINUTE.
>> JUST A REGULAR GUY.
>> METAL DETECTOR?
>> WITH A METAL DETECTOR.
>> IN CALIFORNIA?
>> IN CALIFORNIA.
>> SO THIS IS CALIFORNIA'S GOLD.
>> IT IS.
>> HOW MANY OUNCES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
>> RIGHT ABOUT 100.
JUST UNDER 100.
>> OF PURE, SOLID, HEAVY GOLD.
>> HEAVY GOLD.
>> GET A TIGHT SHOT OF THIS, CAMERON.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT IT GLISTEN IN THE LIGHT.
>> AND WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT IT IS IT'S GOT THESE LITTLE PIECES OF THIS WELL-CEMENTED GRAVEL UNIT.
AND THAT TELL US THAT IT CAME FROM ONE OF THE ORIGINAL TERTIARY CHANNELS THAT WERE SO RICH THAT WERE MINED IN THE 1850s HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS ALL THE SPECIAL.
>> THEY OVERLOOKED THIS IN THE 1850s.
IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR 200--160 YEARS.
>> AND THEY JUST MISSED IT.
AND IT WAS COVERED WITH TAILINGS.
AND THEY JUST MISSED IT.
>> NOW, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THIS?
JUST LET PEOPLE SALIVATE OVER IT, OR ARE YOU GONNA SELL IT?
YOU'RE NOT GONNA CUT IT UP, ARE YOU?
>> OH, OF COURSE NOT.
NO, THIS IS GONNA GET SOLD AT AUCTION IN MARCH.
>> WOW.
>> AND IT'S A SPECIAL PIECE.
>> CAN I ASK--IS IT POLITE TO ASK WHAT IT'S WORTH?
>> YOU KNOW, THE COLLECTORS ARE GONNA DECIDE WHAT IT'S WORTH.
BUT IT'S PROBABLY WORTH SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 200,000 AND $500,000.
>> $500,000?
>> YEAH.
ITS GOLD VALUE ALONE IS ABOUT 130,000 IF YOU MELT IT.
BUT IT'S GOT COLLECTOR VALUE.
>> AND THIS IS WHY PEOPLE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR GOLD IN CALIFORNIA.
>> IT IS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE OLD DAYS, THIS WASN'T THE PRIZE.
THE PRIZE WAS THE STACK OF $20 GOLD COINS.
AND COINS LIKE WHAT YOU JUST SAW, THAT'S WHAT THE PRIZE WAS FOR THE MINERS.
WHEN THEY MELTED THAT DOWN AND GOT THAT STACK OF COINS, THAT WAS THEIR PRIZE.
BUT TODAY, THIS IS THE PRIZE.
>> BOY, IT'S A PRIZE, ALL RIGHT.
I GOTTA TELL YOU, I'VE NEVER-- I CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO STAND HERE AND HOLD THIS MUCH GOLD IN YOUR HAND.
>> IT'S REMARKABLE.
AND THEN TO THINK THAT IT'S THE LAST ONE OF PROBABLY 15 OR SO THAT WERE THIS SIZE OR LARGER EVER FOUND THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY.
>> WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU DON'T KNOW IT'S THE LAST ONE.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF GOLD OUT IN THEM THERE HILLS.
>> THERE IS.
AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN YOUR BACKYARD YET.
>> SEE, THERE YOU GO.
THAT'S WHY WE STILL LOOK.
BECAUSE WE COULD STILL FIND SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN OUR BACKYARDS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THERE ARE GONNA BE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER CALIFORNIA RIGHT NOW DIGGING IN THEIR BACKYARDS OR GETTING OUT THOSE METAL DETECTORS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
AND THIS IS WHAT THEY CAME HERE FOR IN THE 1850s TO BEGIN WITH.
THIS WAS THE DREAM.
>> AND STILL HERE TODAY.
>> THIS WAS THE DREAM.
>> WELL, IT'S A DREAM, ALL RIGHT.
I GOTTA TELL YOU, I TOLD YOU WE WERE GONNA HAVE A GRAND FINALE LIKE NONE OTHER YOU'D EVER SEEN BEFORE.
WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME AT THE LONG BEACH COIN, STAMP, AND COLLECTIBLES EXPO.
YOUR NAME, AGAIN, IS?
>> FRED HOLABIRD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'LL JUST TAKE THIS AND JUST WALK RIGHT ON...I WOULDN'T GET VERY FAR, WOULD I?
>> HA HA HA.
ABOUT THAT FAR.
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
WE'VE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DAY HERE.
AND LOOK AT THIS, AN AUTHENTIC, RECENTLY FOUND PIECE OF HONEST TO GOODNESS CALIFORNIA'S GOLD.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] >> "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.
>> WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER.
AND IT'S ALL ABOUT STAMPS AND COINS AND COLLECTIBLES AND THAT BIG OL' PIECE OF CALIFORNIA'S GOLD.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SIT AND LOOK AT THAT BIG OLD NUGGET OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WELL, YOU CAN DO SO BY ORDERING THE DVD.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL 1-800-266-5727, AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO SEND IT TO YOU--NOT THE NUGGET, BUT THE DVD, RIGHT AWAY.
