about five years ago and for $5, came home with a glass Tom's jar of chips and tokens.

This jar had been sitting in their room for about three years when my wife and I decided we were going to clean their room (since they hadn't). When I came across the jar of colorful chips I told her to let me do a little research on these things before I decide to throw them out. The chips I really freaked out on were the Kings Crown chips because they had pretty high denominations. I couldn't help but wonder how anyone would actually hold onto a chip instead of cashing it in! After about a month or so of poking around online, I came across a collector from NY who was looking for old casino chip. We talked on the phone and I sent a few scans of what I had. He offered me $400 for the lot. I had to wonder why someone would offer that much money and thought they might actually be worth more if I just looked into it. Once I decided to do a little more research, the history sucker punched me and I was hooked. When I first came to The Chip Board, my intentions were to sell and to get information but the more I learned, the harder it became to get rid of them.

I also came to find out about the King's Crown chips... I still keep them because they're what made me do a double take.

After chatting a while with my NY contact, he told me about the chipping community and the great experiences he'd had. I see him post on the board from time to time and I could never thank him enough for not pressuring me to sell to him. His behaviour is a testament to how we (well, most of us) treat eachother and conduct ourselves as collectors. The rest, as they say, is history!

I have begun to collect C&S chips, illegals (thanks to Ed Hertel... he sucker punched me with a GREAT starter set!) and UFC's from anywhere. For the most part, my specialty would be Illegals (it's where it all began, right?). The bulk of my collection still lies in Nevada (of course), followed by illegals, antiques, California, then Caribbean. In that order.

The people on the board are top notch and it's unfortunate I have not had the honor of meeting many of you. I have had the great pleasure of meeting Doug McKenzie, Steve Millet and Mike Downey. So for now, I have to let my imagination "paint" pictures of what I think you other guys (& Gals) may look like. And even more unfortunate is the fact that I cannot paint! It looks like Picasso went on a bender, had WAY too much absinthe, was way, WAY pissed and well... you've seen his work!