that he was at a yard sale several weeks ago in the San Fernando Valley (Granada Hills/Los Angeles, CA) and asked the homeowner (seller) if he had any casino items.

After thinking about it for a moment or two the guy said that he a couple of twentyfive cent chips from the Four Queens. He had gotten them a while back and they may not be any good, any more.

This family friend is on the verge of collecting chips, as he has known me for years and is heavily involved with other collectibles (coins, stamps, currency, autographs and space items) and from time-to-time pops up with a chip or two.

Anyway, turns out the yard sale seller had about 12, twentyfive cent chips, all from the Four Queens and in a mix of three different versions. At the time of the story, the family friend was in Las Vegas, visiting from Los Angeles. He told me that on his next trip to Vegas, he would bring me the chips, so that I could see them.

As with all such stories, I just tucked it away, not relying on it to come to pass or not. But little did either of us know that within 3 days, the two of us would be returning to Las Vegas.

When we met, he handed me a rubber-banded stack of three brownish chips, each inserted into a plastic 2 x 2 flip, saying "these are for you". Because of the circumstances of our encounter (a funeral) I simply put them into my pocket, knowing that I could look them up later and let him know the values, which he could apply to the others he still had.

Later that day I pulled the chips from their protective wrapping and this is what I found:

Obviously in rough condition, but nonetheless, an example missing from my collection. I was happy to have it.

Next up was this little beauty:

Also quite worn, but those hats are as shiny as shiny C/J H/C's can be! Again, another example missing from my collection, but not any more.

And then there was the third chip, and believe me when I say, Last, but not least!

BINGO!!! Granted there is a piece missing at the 8 o'clock position, but this baby (also, previously missing from my collection) is a pleasure to now own!

I've already advised the friend about values and although I have not seen the other 9 chips he has, he told me that he had brought to me the best of each version. He also said that there were two of the arrowdie chips, his and mine.

So, in anonymity, I thank him for these wonderful additions to my collection.

This once again re-affirms the notion that when at a yard sale, it never hurts to ask,

"Got Chips?"

Thanks for looking,

Jim Follis