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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H956rspuV+dWH96RomQNcTl+YuPYOTWUz8rDXO3e5McW8P50z+sE/fvnhBLKhw79
 WTRrT43d+itauZLjZzUVzA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-09-030324.txt : 20091228
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-09-030324.hdr.sgml : 20091225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091228160858
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-09-030324
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091224
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091228
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091228

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Wallace Joseph John
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001338936

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34240
		FILM NUMBER:		091261983

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 6280
		CITY:			NEWPORT BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92658-6280

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLLECTORS UNIVERSE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001089143
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				330846191
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1921 E. ALTON AVENUE
		CITY:			SANTA ANA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92705
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9495671234

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1921 E. ALTON AVENUE
		CITY:			SANTA ANA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92705
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001089143</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COLLECTORS UNIVERSE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CLCT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001338936</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wallace Joseph John</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 6280</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWPORT BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92658</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9023</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.99</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65590</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christine Kakour</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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