Collectors Universe Announces New Management Positions.

Business Editors

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 2000

Collectors Universe Inc. (Nasdaq: CLCT) Wednesday announced that David G. Hall, Founder and Chairman, will assume the additional title of Chief Executive Officer upon the departure of Louis M. Crain at the end of the month.

Hall founded the predecessor company, PCGS, in 1986 and served as President and CEO of the company until January, 1999 when Crain assumed the position of President, CEO and Director. Crain will remain a Director following his departure and has signed a long-term consulting agreement to provide technical assistance for Internet infrastructure and Web site development.

The company also announced the appointment of Gary N. Patten to the additional position of President. He will continue to serve as the company's Chief Financial Officer. In addition, the company announced the formation of three business sectors and the appointment of the following individuals as presidents of the respective business units: Stephen H. Mayer, President of Service; Michael Sherman, President of Commerce and B.J. Searls, President of Content.

"I am very appreciative for the contributions Lou has made as CEO of the company and I look forward to his continued involvement and guidance as a Director," said Hall. "Our company is continuing its rapid development as a full-service provider of value-added service for the collectibles markets and this new organizational structure will provide the focus to maintain that growth. The recent acquisition of Bowers and Merena positions us as the leader in the rare coin auction market. Our currency auctions are growing rapidly and were offered in both an Internet and live auction venue in February. Our service business is expanding with the introduction of stamp authentication and grading during the current quarter, and we recently starting grading sportscards for distribution through mass merchandisers. We see a number of exciting opportunities in the collectibles markets and our recently announced management appointments will provide the structure to realize these opportunities," concluded Hall.

Collectors Universe is a leading provider of value-added services to collectors and dealers of coins, sportscards, sports memorabilia, rare currency and rare records. Since 1986, the company has authenticated and graded over 8 million collectible coins and sportscards with a declared value in excess of $9 billion. The company also conducts high-end collectible auctions in a multi-venue format including Internet, telephone and in person.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: the company's limited operating history, acceptance by the collectible stamp market for graded stamps, submission rates for grading of stamps, realized average grading fees, development of a sight-unseen market for the sale of graded stamps, competition, unpredictability of future auctions and the revenue derived from these auctions, the failure to integrate and leverage the operations of Bowers and Merena with the company's current operations, the possible decline in the popularity of some high-end collectibles, the limited availability of high-end collectibles and the risk that Internet based e-commerce providers could make exclusive arrangements with the company's competitors or other service providers. Certain of these risks and uncertainties, in addition to other risks, are more fully described in the company's Prospectus dated Nov. 4, 1999, which was part of the company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the company's Form 10-Q for the first and second quarters ended Oct. 2, 1999 and Jan. 1, 2000, respectively.