Have you ever looked at a busy Bourse floor at a coin expo and wondered which of 1,000 dealers has the coins you want most?

Finally, there’s a solution, and it’s making its debut at the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo—June 16-19, 2011.

Whitman Compass™ is an innovative but easy-to-use new tool that helps collectors go straight to the dealers who have the coins or currency they’re looking for right now. It’s currently in Beta testing, but available for use at WhitmanCompass.com. More on it, in just a moment.

Other Expo highlights include a reception for the Maryland Delegate who led the way in stopping the repeal of the sales tax exemption for gold coins and the Stacks Bowers Galleries auction. Be sure to catch these Expo offerings.

• The Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction of rare coins and paper money kicks off the Expo. This premiere auction will present thousands of U.S., world, and ancient coins and paper money, featuring: 1807 Draped Bust Dime, MS-64 (PCGS); 1883 Morgan Silver Dollar, Proof-67 (PCGS), CAC; 1863-S Liberty Half Eagle, AU-58+ (NGC); 1915 Indian Eagle, MS-66 (PCGS); 1880 Pattern Goloid Metric Dollar, Judd-1651, Proof-66+ (PCGS); 1872 Pattern Commercial Dollar, Judd-1217, Proof-64+ RB (PCGS).
• The Presidential Coin & Antique Company’s 81st Exonumia Sale features three major consignments — David H. Hirsch’s Washingtonia collection, Ron Thompson’s inaugural medals, and Estate of Steve Middleton’s Columbian Exposition tokens and medals. Offered also is a complete set of official bronze inaugural medals including all four keys — the 905 Saint-Gaudens Roosevelt; the 1917 Wilson; the 1921 Harding and the 1925 Coolidge. Most major areas of exonumia are well represented in the catalog’s hundreds of lots. The sale will start at 5:30 p.m., Saturday in room 348.
• Friday afternoon the Maryland State Numismatic Association continues its annual distinguished lecturer series. Professional numismatist, educator, and author Anthony Swiatek is this year’s speaker. The program includes what every collector should be aware of before buying coins at a coin show. Friday, 2 p.m. in room 348.
• Attend a hobby club meeting and make some new friends. The Fellowship of Christian Coin Dealers, Liberty Seated Collector’s Club, Maryland Token and Medal Society, and Early American Coppers Club are all meeting on Friday or Saturday. Consult the show program for details.
• Coins and currency are not just for grownups. Young collectors are welcome at the Expo. Kids’ Korner activities start at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Every youngster aged 6 to 14 who attends will go home with free coins and prizes.

Whitman Compass™ will be used for the first time at the Summer Expo. Here’s how it works:

Top dealers who attend coin shows and have a sterling reputation are invited to enter their inventory into the Compass database before the expo begins.

Then, you can visit WhitmanCompass.com (in advance or at the expo) and enter the coins you are most interested in. Whitman Compass™ gives you a list of dealers who have the coin and their table locations. When you can walk onto the Bourse floor, you know exactly which booths to visit first.

The official debut of the new Whitman Compass™ will in the days just prior to and throughout this year’s Whitman Philadelphia Expo (September 15-17). But you can preview this new tool throughout the Baltimore Expo (June 16-19, 2011).

The Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo is open to the public free of charge from Noon until 6:00pm on Thursday, June 16; from 10am until 6pm on Friday and Saturday, June 17 and 18; and from 10 am until 3pm on Sunday, June 19.