I think your mistake is one that all of us have done. I know that I've bought a chip here or there that was not real. I wasn't sure and I assumed it was. I didn't ask questions so I took responsibility for my purchase and chalked it up to experience.

Over time, we all gain experience. Just like touching a hot stove... sometimes we need to get burned a little bit to learn something new. If someone doesn't promote the chip as a real one, then it's up to me to find out more about it by asking questions or doing some research.

There are lots of home games chips out there that can be mistaken for a real casino chip too. It's going to be part of hobby.

I think it's great that David Spragg is building and maintaining a list of fakes and fantasy chips on the Club's board. ( http://www.ccgtcc.com/fakes.html ). I know that page may not be too helpful at a convention or show but at least the info is out there for all of us to go back to in times of need.

Previously I posted messages about how I didn't like all the hype about the Borland fakes and counterfeits. Some collectors liked to go after those things... I guess everyone has their own opinions about them.

I don't have any marbleized brass core chips but would like to eventually get one of the Hard Rock ones. I think they're cool. I know they are not a real casino chip. Yet that doesn't deter me from wanting one eventually. It's my understanding that the HR brass core chips might have been sold though the gift shop at one time (as solid color chips) and someone else has been marbelizing them. They were never a real chip so I don't see this as altering a real casino chip.

I'm not sure if your chip came from a real casino or not. It is listed on the club's fantasy chip page though.