I am glad to hear these criticisms against the explosion of limited edition chips.

I wrote a prophetic Letter to the Editor in the January 1993 “Casino Chip and Token News.” The first paragraph was a tirade against Chipco chips that were all the craze then.

In the first paragraph I said that the older style of chips were more charming and elegant than the “garish” Chipcos. I said “And now we have tawdry CHIPCO “collector series” chips splattered with pop culture icons. Good grief! This plethora of tastelessness hurts both one’s pocketbook and sensibilities.” I wanted to include this line, but it was too late: “Can you imagine betting the family farm with a Buddy Hackett chip?”

This was the last paragraph of that letter to the editor: “Years ago when I collected postage stamps, U.S. stamps had a simple elegance to them. Then we laughed at “dog and cat” countries that had stamps manufactured for them in London, never to be used in the country that ordered the stamps, but rather to be sold to American kids -- stamps picturing animals, American sport heroes, etc. Now America has stamps, chips and a culture with as much substance as the stickers children collect.”

I wrote that for the 1993 Club newsletter. Eventually, I gave up collecting
CURRENT casino chips. The Editor commented that if people wanted to collect expensive manhole covers, that was their right and I should be tolerant and leave them alone.