After years of trying, I finally found a casino chip at a garage sale...two, actually. I have picked up old poker chips and a few casino-related oddities, but no casino chips, and certainly no good ones. Still, I always ask. On Saturday, on a whim, my daughter and I decided to stop by one of the first garage sales in our area this season. We didn't see much, but I asked the homeowners if they had any casino stuff. The husband said, "I have TWO chips." He really emphasized the two. "Kinda old." Now I was intrigued. What would he bring down? I waited a bit and he came back with these:

Not only old chips, and obscure chips, but Caribbean chips!! Right in my wheelhouse! And in great condition. Well, I don't do Puerto Rico so much, but I do pick up some chips I consider to have that Rick Armstrong graphically pleasing look, when the price is low enough, and I always admired the Americana chips. I gave him what I had in my wallet, and he seemed pleased enough. I thought it was a reasonable offer, but I really didn't know, not being a Puerto Rico collector. I assumed I scored a couple of $15-$20 chips, maybe more, maybe less. I have been told that they are worth considerably more than that by one Caribbean expert. Whooooo!

One in the collection. I still haven't decided whether to throw the other on ebay or sell it here. It will depend on whether I have a good handle on how much to ask for them, I guess. I am still tingling with the thrill of the score! Guess I will keep on asking at every garage sale.

Michael Siskin