Guess the topic got your attention or curiosity! No, this is not a juicy expose' on Mel, or a controversial attack on someone which some folks on the BB relish in. It's about an article that appeared in the June, 1998 issue of "Antiques & Collecting Magazine" that I just happened to come across. Thought that I would share it with those who have not seen or read it.

"A PASSIONATE COLLECTOR" is the headline, written by Jennifer Slawson.

NAME: Mel Jung
PASSION: Graming Chips

If you've ever cheered for a "Hard 8" at a craps table, you know the feeling of having a heavy stack of casisno chips in your hands. And if you're like me, you alsos know the empty feeling in your hands (and in your stomach) of losing them all. It was that empty feeling that brought Mel Jung to his passion of collecting gaming chips.

As an investment consultant, Mel used to attend business meetings in Las Vegas. He would play a few games, but when he lost, he would become frustrated and walk away with a few remaining chips still jangling together in his pocket. Mel began to collect in ernest in 1962, starting with those original, unlucky casino chips and acquiring more unusual and obsolete chips throught the years. Today, he says he has over 5,000 obsolete chips and his collection is valued at over ............... thousand dollars.

However, in talking with Mel, it is clear that he is not in it for the money. He is an enthusiastic chip-history buff who has done a great deal of research about his hobby. The story about gaming chips is much more interesting than one might guess looking at the thick rubery discs that are traded for cash today on the gambling boats and in Las Vegas casinos. Mel explains that American gaming started back in the 1840's in New Orleans where players used scrimshaw (carved ivory) chips for their games. Of course, they were used for poker, but also for other card games such as Faro or Pan. Each player had his own custom made set, with some identifying intial or insignia to connect them to their owner. The chip-set was usually around 300 pieces with three assignations; five dollar, twenty five dollar, and an undetermined one, to be adjusted to the stakes of a particular table.

Later, during prohibition, chips were made of heavy paper stock. This eliminated the noise of a lively game to better protect the illicit gamblers in the backroom of a speak-easy. To avoid being associated with the illegal activities, players chose symbols for their chips such as a top-hat or a diamond, rather than specifying a monogram or even a dollar amount.

According to Mel, he and most other chip collectors prefer the prohibition chips and the "mob-related, Bugsy Segal" chips from 1946-1950 over the older chips from New Orleans and the Old West. For Mel, it is the history of a piece that attracts him. He says that "many youger collectors want their chips freshly boxed, uncirculated, never having touched an actual game table.... but give me a chiop with some scratches.... smoke filled and full of history."

Still for Mel, the "holy grail" of gaming chips would be a full set of house chips from the El Dorado, which he says was the largest gaming establishment in San Francisco in the 1850's (The El Dorado was prepared to back up, or pay, $200,000 per day in winnnings!)

Mel has some El Dorado chips in his collection, but thus far a full set has eluded him. Short of that utimate challenge, Mel also searches for brass-core chips. These he describes as having a brass center, encasedin a plastic enclosure through heat and pressure. They were produced in the 1970's and distributed by only seven casinos in the world, according to Mr. Jung.

Mel is a dedicated enthusiast who is more than willing to share his considerable knowledge with collecting novices as well as seasoned vets. He, along with a few other experienced collectors classified over 400 California chips, created a gaming chip catalog that serves as an industry guide,a nd has created an informative web page for anyone who is interested in this hobby. He may have begun his collecting career by losing at the gambling tables, but in the game of chip-collecting, he is most assuredly, a winner.

If you are interested in chip collectingk or if you have chips in your attic that you would like to sell, check out Mels' website at http://pages,prodigy.com/Chippermel. There are also many other chip collectors listed at chequers.com or contact the Casino Chips and Gaming Token Collectors Club (CC&GTCC) at PO Box 368, Wellington, OH 44090
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MEL'S CHIP TIPS: 1. When beginning your collection, buy at least two of each chip. Then in about a year and a half you can sell one, paying for your first one.
2. If you know a casino is closing, visit them, play their tables and bring a few chips home. A 1988 Nevada Gaming Board law requires that chips that are no longer going to be in play at a casino must be destroyed, creating immediate value and demand. Typically, chip value almost doubles the minute a casino closes.
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AUTHOR's NOTE: According to an article in "Poker Magazine", this is also true of novelty or limited edition chips. Sometimes within hours of being "sold out" at the casino cage,k a chip will double in value.

There you have it gang...... another chip story published in a well distributed periodical debunking the myth that our hobby is being kept a big dark secret. Thanks for spending the time with writer Jennifer Slawson, Mel. Many times some of us just don't want to be bothered or get involved. (Nice picture by the way Mel) Best wishes, Archie