Welcome & hope you get much enjoyment out of chip collecting. Regarding "Big dollar" denomination chips, there are a few factors for you to consider -- Of course, you won't be picking up "live" $1000 chips off the tables (unless you win the lottery !! ), so the chips you'll find will be either obsolete / closed value chips, or "no cash value" chips, such as tournament chips, also obsolete or from closed casinos.

Looking at TCR (listing chips from Nevada) there are over 500 chips @ 1000 denomination, including both cash and no-cash-value types. Some of those are "live" chips, so your Nevada universe of chips is probably 300-400, though not all of those are available. Add 1000 chips from all other locations, worldwide, and your universe is probably 500-800 possible chips, with less than half of them in a reasonable price range and attainable. (These are just my guesstimates, but you get the idea.)

This is an area that is not widely collectible, in contrast to collecting $1 chips, for example. That can be both good and bad. You won't have as much competition, but the supply of such chips will be harder to find too. And if you do plan to sell them down the road, there may not be as many potential buyers for a collection of "1000" denomination chips.

Still, I'd say go for it, but build up your experience or ask questions before spending any major bucks.

You will find that high-denomination cash value chips will have more elaborate security measures, such as more inserts, etc. and interesting color combinations. Also, interesting oversize chips, such as $1000 baccarat chips.

One plaque that you may want to put on your future wish list is the Sahara $1000 plaque. It's a beauty ... but sells for $600-$700+.

If you get a chance to attend a chip show, such as the SuperBowl show in February, or the club convention next June, you will have the opportunity to go through a lot of dealer inventory that you wouldn't otherwise find on ebay.

Good luck with your adventure!