First of all - I must thank the people who exchanged emails and phone calls with me - sometimes into the wee hours of the morning - concerning this chip.

Finding a chip of "possible rarity" has been QUITE the initiation and education for me. YIKES! I have received dozens of offers to buy, offers to sell, offers to trade, countless congratulations and even a few insults and accusations of sorts. The whole situation left me baffled, overwhelmed and searching for direction. I sincerely thank those who pointed the way - or did their best to do so.

AT THIS TIME - to discourage the "offers" WHICH ARE STILL COMING - LOL- I must announce this:

The chip has been committed to Wayne Thompson pending authentication. He is collector of Nevada dimes and should this be "a very un-Paulson-sample-like version of fuchsia" - the chip is his. If for some reason he declines the chip - I have promised another collector of Nevada obsoletes and C&J molds "second dibs". Beyond these 2 commitments... I don't know. Hopefully they are "enough" to seal the fate of a bandit.

And IF the chip is just a dirty common little "light and age-altered variety" , I will GLADLY keep it. I LIKE the chip. I bought it because I LIKED it.

Thanks again - especially to Mel Jung, James Campiglia, Doug Saito, Joe Shaw, Jim Perlowski, John Benedict - I could go on and on - for your patience, opinions and guidance. Thanks to EVERYONE who stepped forward in a sincere attempt to help. I REALLY REALLY appreciate EVERY ONE who emailed and called and consider EACH of your opinions equally valuable. The same applies in May when I ask you to share your opinions on it when you see it. (hopefully Wayne will have it anyway - I AM DONE! )

But I really want to thank Dave Smith ~ who didn't want the chip (well...maybe if I threw it at him) ~ who helped me with the "delicate issues" with sensible, practical "real life" application. Whew! Thanks!

THANK YOU ALL.

jsb