In late December 1999, Hilton got all of the chips in. 12 different $5s, 750 each, and 12 different $25s, 100 each. The intended distribution plan was to sell complete sets in advance ONLY if you bought a $60 frame. Otherwise you had to buy each chip when it went on sale the first of each month throughout 2000. The cashiers didn't fully understand the plan, and I was originally able to buy more sets than frames. Then I was able to buy a few more sets without frames. Actually, they only made 35 $5 frames and ONE $25 frame. I own the only $25 frame in existance. (Probably not rare, though <g>.) I think now you could buy complete sets pretty easy, keep the chips you want, and sell the rest back.

I think if they would have locked away ALL of the chips not due for release yet, and in January sold just the January chips and the empty frames, there would have been more foot traffic in the casino the first of each month. I don't know if they really would have sold more chips. They would have sold more chips if they'd have put different pictures on the $25s than on the $5s. I still think it's the nicest millennium set in Reno, and the frames are extremely high quality.

But if someone sold you a chip on eBay with the pretense that it was somehow an error or rare because it wasn't supposed to be issued until December 2000, they were scamming. I have complete sets of $5s and $25s if anyone is interested, along with all other Reno millennium chips and most Tahoe.