Got this lovely the other day. NOT for sale, sorry. I believe this beaut is N6969, noted as " * " no market in TCR #10 and R-9 Exceedingly Rare in C/W's Official.... If you've got a differing opinion on ID, let me know. Post your pic if you've got one too please!

Kind of fell into collecting this joint when I bagged one of the important Bank Club chips at the club auction a couple of years ago. Lots of notorious figures associated with this club and it had a big footprint in Reno back in the day. Lots of striking one-of-a-kind chips were on the Bank Club tables over the years and I've had fun putting some of these little guys together.

Wasn't easy being a Bank Clubber for some of these chips. They got rescued from a fire or two, carried off in pilfered dealer aprons, hidden in the sewer and buried in the ground here and there. Looks like this particular example has had a long strange journey to my desk for sure. I've played some filthy chips along the way but dirt-wise, this refugee surpasses anything in play in this spiritual plane.

Spent a lot of time peering at this goodie through a lens, trying to catalogue condition problems that enter new territory not addressed by CCGTCC or the guides. Those nicks and things around the edges have become eroded beyond the usual table wounds. One item of note is a crack at the edge of one the inserts as it reverts back to its manufacturing birth. Cool, never have seen that before! James Campiglia's opinon is that this is a condition that indicates loss of moisture in the clay composition. Dust to dust, like the Bank Club itself.

Thought about cleaning this cutie but found out this probably isn't possible. Tried one method on the edge but mostly succeded in coming away with more color than dirt. My guess is that this chip wears it's "experiences" down to a molecular level and as the clay's moisture receeds it sucks the dirt down into the core of the chip as it goes. Maybe a Palm Springs spa treatment might perk this thing up but I don't think we've come that far in the chipping arena. Sigh. But you can still tell the color and read the hotstamp.

This historical artifact has found a home here with me. I'm happy to be the caretaker for awhile. I'm older than this small key by just a little and I want it to fascinate chippers in the years ahead also.