a $50 and $500 plaque are currently for sale on right now (ending later this week)-- they are usually the hardest to find after the $1,000 plaque. There is also a BIN or "best offer" on a $100 that is reasonable. I have found the US Chip price guide to be a bit low on the Sahara Plaques (although a new edition is due out any day), except for the $1,000 which usually goes for face or thereabouts. Of course, with the economy being as it is you might score a deal if you're patient.

The $1,000 is actually the last of the "Holy Grails" that I identified when I first started collecting (the $25,000 Dunes and 16th issue Deseret Inn $20 Baccarat being the other two-- I could probably add to that list nowadays); I have had a chance to pick it up a couple of times but haven't 1) because I have yet to spend that much on a single chip; and 2) if I had all of my "Holy Grails" I would have to quit collecting . As I have found out in this hobby, the wanting and the hunting can be even better than the having at times, so having some things remain unattainable keeps things interesting.

Brent J. Jensen
orbis non sufficit