First, I believe most would agree that a chip that is currently in use is not "obsolete." That being said, I have read a bit of disagreement on this board over the years about exactly what that term means. For example, in Nevada, redemption notices are issued. I know some respected collectors believe no Nevada chip is truly obsolete unless the casino has closed or a redemption notice has been issued. In Atlantic City, however, there are no redemption notices, and all chips (with an asterisk for the unearthed Playboy chips) are still redeemable. Still, AC collectors use some criteria for determining which chips are obsolete. In the Caribbean, some chips can resurface (for example, the Occidental has been using old Americana chips and ncvs and old Palace ncvs as match play chips) or show up elsewhere (I have heard that the only remaining casino in Bonaire has been using chips from a casino that starts with an "A" while they wait for new chips). There are chips that supposedly have been used in Nevada and California, and other places as well. So, it is up to people who know much more than I to determine just what "obsolete" means.

For the chips that you discuss, though, I would think that it would have to be confirmed that they are off of the tables, and probably that a redemption notice has been issued, before you can safely call them "obsolete." Does that help?

Michael Siskin