>>>"But at any given time, the value of chips is determined by what collectors know and how many are available for purchase by those who are interested.<<<"

...... and who is bidding at that particular moment. A potential bidder may not have been in a postion to bid on a particular chip at the time it was being offered.... either because he/she did not know of the sale, or because of financial considerations that were in effect at that time. Don't forget, all those underbidders who were in the running expressed interest and may be having second thoughts about increasing their bids the next time one (or the same one) surfaces.