I may seem strange that a collector would pay higher than face value for a
current chip, but what if you are a collector of Las Vegas casino chips but live in Kentucky. You make one trip a year to Las Vegas and at that time you can
get chips at face value. If you want them when they are issued (especially
limited edition chip because they might not be available when you go) the
answer is to pay a premium for the chips. There are many collectors who use
a "service" that offers current house and LE chips for a premium. This way
you know you are getting the chips when they are issued.

Hope that answers you question