HEIRLOOM! (2 Viewers)

[Flashpoint]

Hello all!

Brand new to your forum! Have spent 48 hrs in the "chip rabbit hole"

Looking initially for collector chips.

Have some questions though

1. Is it better to collect a "set" or "stacks" or singles
2. Anything or any version "investment quality" recommended

I usually play online or vegas so not really purchasing these for use


Thanks everyone!

 

[Phoe9x]

1. Is it better to collect a "set" or "stacks" or singles

That’s the fun of collecting! You figure that out yourself. Do you like big sets that you can play with? Or do you like collecting memorabilia from multiple casinos?

2. Anything or any version "investment quality" recommended

Typically Paulson is the name brand that holds its value.

 

[Chips523]

Buying sets to me makes more sense. You can actually use the chips to make money through victories. I wouldn't even mind losing but not using them no way.

I honestly wouldn't know where to start on a collection of singles. It would probably be even harder if one were actually trying to collect for a profit later down the road. The chip market seems unstable and full of changes.

 

[Flashpoint]

That’s the fun of collecting! You figure that out yourself. Do you like big sets that you can play with? Or do you like collecting memorabilia from multiple casinos?

Typically Paulson is the name brand that holds its value.

So if you collect singles of Paulsons is there a market or is it more of collect what you like. I can see using the paulson sets and they hold value but is there any value other than to myself in singles.

 

[Phoe9x]

So if you collect singles of Paulsons is there a market or is it more of collect what you like. I can see using the paulson sets and they hold value but is there any value other than to myself in singles.

It’s mostly collect what you like. i wouldn’t say there’s a big market in singles, mainly people searching for a few chips that they want.

 

[DrStrange]

There is a section on PCF set aside for single collectors here: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/forums/cca-news-and-info.27/

eBay has robust offering of single chips.

It is harder to display a set. Single chips can be framed and wall mounted - e.g. I have more than 3,000 single chips.

060

• DrStrange
• Sep 9, 2016

But, you can't actually play with single chips. For that you need sets. Most of us here play with our chips or at least plan to use them someday. I have tens of thousands of chips in sets. Most of them have been in play.

Each of us do what suits our interest. Figure out what's fun for you and do it. Who knows, you might buy a set and suddenly feel the urge to try out hosting to get your chip back into play?

DrStrange

PS I would be remiss if I didn't note that older doesn't mean more valuable. Also, rare doesn't always mean valuable. Condition almost always matters when pricing.

 

[Jimulacrum]

IMO complete sets are the best way to go because you can actually play with them, but of course I'm a poker player first and a chip collector second. I have just one complete casino set (but a huge one, ~3,000 chips) and a random assortment of singles that I've collected, typically one cherry-picked $1 or odd low-denomination chip ($2, $2.50, $3) from places where I've played. I don't display my singles anywhere, and I don't have any long-term goals for them.

Even if you don't plan to play with the chips, consider collecting playable sets if you can afford it, as it gives you more of a clear goal and makes it more likely you'll find buyers if you eventually sell or trade. (Notice how many sale posts here are complete barrels, racks, and sets as opposed to singles.)

All this said, do what makes you happy. That's the hobby. The rest is just details.

 

[bigblind]

Welcome

 

[upNdown]

It’s a tough hobby to crack. I know little to nothing about singles. I’m pretty sure they publish a pricing guide for singles every year or two and I’m pretty sure it’s often wildly inaccurate. Still, if I had an interest in singles, I’d probable start there, because at least it’s something.

I’ve never understood the people who collect stacks because it seems like the worst of both worlds - can’t play poker with them, but you’re spending a lot more. Shrug - to each their own.

To me, it’s all about sets. Though i might amend that to set. There are guys here who literally own 100 sets, but you can only play with one at a time. I don’t get it. I like having an amazing set, or maybe a few for a few different purposes. That could be your heirloom. And there’s enough historical data on this site that if you take the time to go through it, you can get an idea of what sets are worth.

But heirloom is a nice word to focus on. Because a lot of people want to think of this stuff as investments, and that’s just not safe. There are some rare singles that were worth huge money, and then somebody found a stache of racks of previously rare chips, and now they’re worth a lot less. As far as sets go, one of the reasons Paulsons increased in value so much is because they stopped selling to the public. But what if they resumed? Values of Paulson sets could take a dive.

So figure out what you love, and collect that. Just don’t think of the chips as bitcoin, and you’ll be fine.

 

[Jimulacrum]

But what if they resumed?

Indeed, what if they resumed, but only ever so briefly, pumping a few tens of thousands of custom chips into the market before abruptly stopping again?

Any sense of what that small run of customs could end up being worth?

Asking for a friend.

 

[Tonysquander]

Welcome to PCF!

 

[Tonysquander]

Indeed, what if they resumed, but only ever so briefly, pumping a few tens of thousands of custom chips into the market before abruptly stopping again?

Any sense of what that small run of customs could end up being worth?

Asking for a friend.

Would depend on colors, edge spots, and design. Some great looking ones would probably get snapped up immediately, and you would have to use a lottery system to buy them, or others may not be as appealing to a wider audience and might sit for a little while. Would guess between $5-$15 per chip would be the selling price. Less for hot stamps.

 

[Jimulacrum]

Would depend on colors, edge spots, and design. Some great looking ones would probably get snapped up immediately, and you would have to use a lottery system to buy them, or others may not be as appealing to a wider audience and might sit for a little while. Would guess between $5-$15 per chip would be the selling price. Less for hot stamps.

Sounds about right to me.

 

[Gus]

There's a handful of different approaches to collecting based on different attributes of chips.

-The chip itself - who made it, when, does it have unique colors or other history?

-The chip's usage - did a casino use this? Is it possible the Rat Pack and Frank Sinatra himself handled this chip while gambling at the casino its from? I think a big "Mapes" hotel set was listed recently that was credibly from that era

-Quirky other things - someone dove a wrecked casino ship and salvaged a few thousand chips from a safe... great story! Guys these chips were sunken in Louisana for a decade and now they're on our table!

If you want pricing estimates and other quantitative data, there's printed guides produced by credible collectors such as:
http://www.thechiprack.com/

For research the Chip Guide by the Museum of Gaming History is invaluable. They're going to paywall it soon I think, but if you use it it'll be well worth the subscription. Basically you look at a chip, find its casino name, then click the state it's from, and you can quickly find tons of info about that casino including photos of their chips over the years.
https://chipguide.themogh.org/
I have a Tachi Palace $5 from Lemoore CA on my desk... in less than a minute I can find this entry:
https://chipguide.themogh.org/cg_chip2.php?id=CALETP&v=3970079201

--

I personally got interested in getting at least one chip from each "mold" as a sort of collecting goal. It represents a history of the industry that produces chips, with all the bankruptcies, technological changes, and other aspects of the business that caters to the gambling market.

The classifieds are your best friend for seeing what people are selling, price points, etc...

Best of luck finding joy in this pursuit, however you approach it!

 

[Flashpoint]

Gus!

Thanks for the comprehensive collectors' information. I like your approach ....a lot...!!!

Do you have a list of molds ...how do you find them all?

Also how to find sources? The problem im having is i dont necessarily want to buy from a collector...id rather "find" something. How do you go about finding the diamonds in the rough? Anything on the market place here is probably going to be already "discovered "

 

[upNdown]

Gus!

Thanks for the comprehensive collectors' information. I like your approach ....a lot...!!!

Do you have a list of molds ...how do you find them all?

Also how to find sources? The problem im having is i dont necessarily want to buy from a collector...id rather "find" something. How do you go about finding the diamonds in the rough? Anything on the market place here is probably going to be already "discovered "

What you do is search Facebook marketplace on the other side of the county, find somebody who wants to sell for local pickup, beg them to ship across country to you, and then complain here when the chips aren’t packed properly.

 

[Gus]

Gus!

Thanks for the comprehensive collectors' information. I like your approach ....a lot...!!!

Do you have a list of molds ...how do you find them all?

Also how to find sources? The problem im having is i dont necessarily want to buy from a collector...id rather "find" something. How do you go about finding the diamonds in the rough? Anything on the market place here is probably going to be already "discovered "

Here's the start of my documenting work:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/molds-industry-master-index.130326/

I'm stalled out a bit, trying to find a web solution that doesn't cost $500/year but with 'faceted search' functionality akin to e-commerce sorting... but really I've just been lazy.

If you read through that post you'll see the segmentation, links to all photos, etc... There's a couple books that target collectors whatnot with some history, but none have been especially comprehensive.

I was on eBay a lot, and there's some good vendors such as Spinetti's and Dwightful if you want to search through a couple thousand chips across categories to get oriented.

I haven't done any other online or in-person searching. Once you know your stuff you could probably call 1000 antique shops asking if they have any poker stuff on hand... they're the least likely to know what's on their hands while still being reachable, unlike grandma with chips in the basement.

One thing to learn first is the difference between chip types, which is basically the history of their manufacturing...
-oldest = bone, porcelain, mother of pearl, wood, etc... pre-poker
-'traditional' = compressed clay... your classic clacky Vegas chips... from the '40s and onwards thru today
-ceramic = blank white disc that has been printed on... durable but many consider them to be 'imitations' of the real thing
-plastic... everything from cheapo interlocking Walgreens chips to Casino-Grade multi-step injection molded... huge range
-TINAs/hybrid... basically the most budget friendly, customizable, versatile chips currently available...

I'm rambling! PCF is truly the greatest trove of info on all this stuff. If you have a question about anything just pop the term into the search bar and you'll quickly find deep expertise both explaining that thing as well as good debate around it.

 

[Gus]

Buy this and then you'll have 100+ chips in your hands to learn all about

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/132-mixed-chip-lot.134551/

 

[TheHobbyist]

Also new, learning a ton as Ive only ever played home games where people use walmart sets of chips.

Every thread is a new set I think is beautiful and just want to buy them all.

My motto in hobbies that include collecting is to buy quality products of the things I like and if I want to one day moce on maybe they retain most of their value (or get lucky and they appreciate).

But I'd leave investment thoughts to more traditional avenues until you are deeply educated in this world.

 

[allforcharity]

But I'd leave investment thoughts to more traditional avenues until you are deeply educated in this world.

Poker chips should *never* be thought of as investments, except for your game or your happiness.

Invest in gold, power generation/storage, or your own education. Poker chips belong on the felt.

 

[Huskerchipper]

I would HIGHLY recommend starting with singles first as you learn about the hobby and find the right path for yourself. It's a blast finding chips you find attractive and getting chips delivered regularly.
Buying barrels and sets makes no sense to me whatsoever since you shared that you play online or in Vegas. Good luck on your journey.