REGGIE

A GUEST AUTHOR’s HARVEST STORY

MARINA CLUB MARINA, CA

J Eric Freedner

Three recent MARINA CLUB chips each of which I "discovered" at the little casino in recent years.

The old set of Chipco's were getting more and more banged up, until they were almost white. When I visited the casino a couple of years ago, I saw some "darker" $5 chips in circulation - still obviously used but nicer looking - so I bought some from the Cage. When I went outside into the sunlight, for it was a Saturday afternoon, I was surprised to spot the little "GO" mark in purple above the first "a" in "Marina." So I rushed back into the casino to buy a few more, to the amusement of the cashier. Now, all of these had great wear to the outer edges, as if they had been on the tables at least a year, but nobody had reported the GO instead of CI mark on them.

I returned to the Marina at some point after this visit, maybe 6 months, to discover the new $1 Game-On chips on the tables. Spotted them instantly and was able to buy 20 from the cashier. These have a raised outer ring area by which, I presume, the manufacturer hopes to slow down wear to the inlay area. Instead of a GO letter on the face, these show the four little "incused" micro-engraving which by now we should be getting familiar with.

Then, when I returned yet another time, about a year ago, I saw that the "new" GO $5 chips were being replaced with a newer Game-On $5 chip. This one has both a visible GO after "Club" and the four little incused marks, again with a raised light purple outer ring. On this visit, the cashier was eating a bowl of popcorn at a table and somewhat begrudgingly came into the Cage to sell me a handful, then went back to his 'corn without making a fuss that I planned to walk out with the chips. Because you cannot yell, "Don't leave with my chips!" with a mouth full of popcorn.

I mention all this in case you also lack one or both of the $5 chips in your collection. Let me know, and I can mail out what you want.

Suppose I should go back to the Marina some day (might be in spring) to see what they are up to. Especially since the cashier seems to know me as that Very Strange Man who buys a few chips and leaves.

J. Eric