This saga started at an Atlantic City antique show in 1998. I was in NY preparing for a poker cruise. Russ Diaz took me to the show. He knew one guy would have chips from doing business with him in the past. Robert E beat us to the guys display. The guy was from LV and gave me his card. He owned an antique store here. His name was Roy Arrington. I think he is dead now.
I visited his store and bought the same package that Robert E bought in AC.
All 3 of the Cotton Club chips, 2 Scrown's and rect inlay were in the packages the 15 or so of us bought, as the "Only Ones." Two unknown $100 Sans Souci, and 2 un-drilled Frontier chips, normally only found drilled.
I can not remember the other 6, but all were scarce chips. All UNC if I remember right.
The 13 chips I bought from Roy came in a small zip lock baggie.
The day after I bought them, Jimbo and I were having lunch at the Fiesta looking at the chips.
Mike Spinetti walked in and said nice chips!!!!
I told him the story, including only 1 of each.
Mike smiled, listened, and ask a couple questions.
He then said, "I just left Roy's store," reached in his pocket, pulled out a small zip lock baggie and threw it on the table. Lo and behold it has a dupe of mine, same 13 chips. Same baggie!
From all the contacts I had with other chippers, they all bought a small zip lock baggie with the same 13 chips.
Several months later Roy gave Spinetti his word, "THERE ARE NO MORE. "
Several months later Roy called Mike and ask if he wanted to buy what was left.
Have no idea how many the ebay seller had or where he got them. If I remember right he would not answers these questions.
Mike Spinetti and I both believe the chips came out of Ted Binion’s safe after he was murdered. I believe Ted got them from a chip manufacturer, possibly EM O'Neil or one of his salesman. O'Neil sold a lot of chips ordered from TR King. That would include S & L crowns and Rect's. BTW Tommy Haines jobbed chips for O'Neil.
Roy auctioned off Ted’s personal safe from his home, sometime later.
I was contacted by investigators in the murder case while I was still at the Fiesta. I told them what I bought from Roy, they already knew what I paid as it was a check. BTW, it was a great price and I am not complaining about the cost. I sold a couple of the chips and free rolled the rest.
I do not know the total number of chips but I believe most of the CC $5 in the hobby today can be backtracked through Roy, Ms Murphy, Ted, and O'Neil.
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