During a chance encounter with Gorby back in the early 80's in London... He told me that this chip was introduced shortly after the first crash of the Russian ruble. Gorby's vanity led to the chip featuring an artist's rendition of Gorby's birthmark. It was used only for a short period as a medium of exchange and was considered quite valuable. Ten of these chips could be exchanged on the black market for a liter of vodka.

However, the chip was declared Obsolete by the IMF (at the urging of Alan Greenspan, who later gained prominance in American economics) after it was discovered that Gorby had arranged with American Bill Borland to 'make a few chips on the side' for Gorby's "personal use".

Pete, it is very likely that you have one of the Borland Counterfeits and NOT one of the original trade chips.

Sorry...

Steve in Albuquerque
<<gg>>