Jim
Great Post.
I hate these damaging Rumors too that usually are spurred by jealousy. If these people want to find rare chips as you & I do then they need to do their homework & dig harder. Or run all those ads I run & take calls about "metal" chips that they think are from the 50's & exactly what I want! No more token calls!
About the Sands $5 arrowdie that I own. I never heard rumor about there being any more. (could you tell me privately who thinks there is). Or can I guess? It was the oddest thing ever that Rene (of all people) found one at a yard sale that same month. His was extremely worn, as if carried as a souvenir from a lucky winning streak when issued in 1952. The one the 4 of us ran a $16,000 ad found was in what I call Au, or near mint. It is nice! And my prize chip of course. I would only prize it more if my Grandfather who came from Santa Barbara to the Sands to play with Morrey King & His Violins had kept one for me. MY Dad went to Vegas soon after & stayed after taking a job at the Hacienda & that's why I was born there & not here in Santa Barbara where I am staying for awhile. This is also why Sands & Hacienda memorabilia is collected by us. And is a favorite part of my collection.
Back to your story. It was Gordon, who you I think were referring to that you thought got all the chips. It wasn't' at the Sands that was at the Hacienda. I was there for both closings & witnessed it. He & I bought the only $1,000 Sands pink chips, last issues, that were out besides a floater that a so called homeless type person had & they would not cash it. We also bought the $500's & so did Jerry Wall. But none of us bought the Baccarats as they weren't available I recall as that game was pulled out years ago but they did have some $5, $20 & $100's for sale I do recall but not the higher ones. I went broke enough to scrape for the $1,500 for the 2 chips as it was!
Please can you tell us what issues you are referring to in the lucite. Also for the Unique high denomination. Is it the 13th? It is not unique I picked up 5 before Christmas when I was getting various Sands chips. I had one in my auction last week. I saw Glenn at the Pawn Place had various Sands that ended Fri or Sat. this week. I want all to know that as mentioned in our market report articles & in my ebay listings that I did get one box each of the $5 & $25 13th issue. What is listed in our book of course is what "was" previously known to our knowledge. These are the only chips that I am aware a quantity has been found on. I have seen between 1 & 6 of about 6 or 7 different chips including some unlisted in our "The Official U.S. Casino Chip Price Guide". I was told by security & a valet parker or bellman that they were received by past gamblers. Issues were from the 13th to the last, 17th. Anyone with further information or if you want to talk Sands or other chips please write me here or at my email jvcinsb@home.com