Hi David ----- the $100 tournament chip was produced in very limited quantities for distribution to the winners of the tournaments held during the so-called "poker classic" at SJ's in 1995. I have heard various production totals ranging from 15 to 100 for this chip (and recently sent an email to Chipco to try to get production totals for all SJ chips, but so far no response). If you'll notice, the holder for that chip says "Only 5 known". That was a reference, I think, to the number which were not otherwise distributed during the tournament itself.

I do know from Mel that at least two of these chips disappeared (stolen?) after the cardroom closed and have not yet resurfaced.

As for other SJ's chips, production runs for some are listed in Jung-Pfaender CA chipguide as follows:

1995 New Year's set ($1, $2, $3, $5 & $10) ---- 200 of each denomination

1995 North Bay Poker Classic (same denominations) ---- also 200 of each
----- Note: the $100 chip is not in either Jung-Pfaender or Eastman (though it is pictured on the cover of the Jung-Pfaender book). I have never seen it for sale by anyone other than Mel.

$100 regular issue ---- "only 50 pcs made"

Although the totals are not listed for the other special issue sets, I think they were consistent with the foregoing; perhaps 200 of each denomination in each set.

So, there may be a lot of regular issue chips out there, but I don't think there are all that many of the special issue chips. Probably are a lot of the tournament chips (the tournaments sometimes had as many as 80 players or more, so there must have been quite a few of the chips), though I haven't seen one of the $100's for sale anywhere.

I got my regular issue $100 in a group of six SJ chips for a total of $26.00 in an eBay auction. The other five were regular issue $1, $2, $5 and $20 and a $10 North Bay Classic. I would gladly have paid $26 for the $100 chip all by itself, with a total production of only 50 chips.

As for the $180 price tag, I didn't actually pay that much (Mel gave me a little break on it). But, I went to the convention intending to buy that chip and was prepared to pay the full $180 if necessary. Is it worth it? Guess we each have to reach our own conclusions on that score, but I thought it was (and still do). I wouldn't sell it for $180 now. And if I can get confirmation of the production run as low as the 15 that I've heard, I wouldn't sell it for twice that much. ----- jim o\-S