<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-12-07</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001127312</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIMMONS VAN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O 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>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2705</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>196132</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted shares that are subject to forfeiture in the event of a cessation of service with the Company.  The shares will cease to be subject to the risk of forfeiture (and, therefore, will become vested) as to 676, 676, 676 and 677 of those shares on March 7, 2016, June 7, 2016, September 7, 2016 and December 7, 2016, respectively, provided that the reporting person is still in the service of the Company on such date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ VAN D. SIMMONS</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-12-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
