Who Can Give Me a Primer on CDI chips? (1 Viewer)

[PokerDogDoc]

I’ve always loved CDI chips and am familiar with the James Bond background, but would love for some knowledgeable person to give me a ‘primer’ on the various iterations of these chips.

A little compare and contrast, if you will.

I see there are some differences in edge spot layouts and inlay designs, but I’m not fully grasping all the significant differences between CDI, CDI 98, CDI 05, etc.

Photos of the various designs would be amazing, too!

 

[sleepypiggly]

This is to the best of my knowledge, so please correct me if I'm wrong.
Pictures below I have saved in the past for reference and have no reference of accreditation (sorry!) I will remove upon request.

CDI = Casino de Isthmus City
CDI chips were originally made for the 007 movie "License to Kill" (1989). This is the fictional casino featured in the movie.

CDI chips in order of rarity / value (from highest to lowest):

1) CDI Movie prop chips, Paulson THC mold with shaped inlay
- Some of these chips were made for the 007 movie "License to Kill" (1989). There aren't a lot of real prop chips floating around today. But the most famous chip is the $10 shaped inlay chip, as shown in the opening sequence to the movie.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...no-de-isthmus-city-10-red-shaped-inlay.88603/
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...98-1000s-43mm-ultra-rare-unicorns-ihc.105836/
- it seems that only this $10 actual prop is pictured prominent in the movie, and the other other possible props are the $50 (and solid blue non-denom). However, those other ones were not visibly seen in the movie (I think).
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/cdi98-movie-prop-50.112177/


2) '98 CDI Paulson THC mold, shaped and round inlays
- These were Paulson-made post movie, so not actual props. The shaped inlays were made in earlier years (not all denoms are shaped), while the round inlays were made in the later years.
- These are excellent quality chips in enough quantities to build playable sets, and and are "leaded." As you will find out (or have already found out), "leaded THCs" are seen as the best quality Paulsons you can buy. Leaded = heavier weight. Today's new Paulson chips are not leaded, and they will never go back to the leaded formula (EPC issue), so in a way, the quantities of leaded THCs are limited.
- This set was a damn good price (the only problem is the limited amount of people wanting to drop $15k at once)
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...cdi-98-set-the-whole-thing-price-drop.109339/


3) '05 CDI PAULSON CHIPS mold
- Paulson made another run of these CDIs due to popular demand in 2005, after they reopened to the home market. They offered these on the PAULSON CHIPS mold, which although is actually a great-feeling heavy mold, the "PAULSON CHIPS" lettering does not appeal to a lot of folks. (The chips are solid like bricks though, like all the other chips made on this mold)


4) CDI, BCC Flame/Shell mold
- BCC was also making the CDIs in the early 2000s, even before the Paulson '05 CDIs. The chips were lighter than Paulsons by about 1g, They were cheaper in price, and the quality isn't as good and consistent as Paulson (BCC's formula is always slightly different than Paulson, even though it was operated by the same Endy family members).
- BCC chips in general is a crapshoot. You placed an order and either it came out fantastic or has tons of errors (misshapen inlays, dry chips, split edges, spinners etc. etc.). It was a pain to deal with getting more chips made to correct the errors
- BCC was acquired by GPI in 2013 and downgraded to very limited low-cost chip sales with only 10colors, no longer makes chips for public market
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/paris-sold-and-bcc-cdi-cashsets-price-lowered.110175/

note the misshapen inlays

5) CDI, TINA Card Mold
- yet another copy of CDI, now from TINA (generic name for Chinese producer) on the cards hybrid mold (basically ceramic chips with mold indentations)
- basically worthless, unlimited copies to be produced on demand


CDI, Plaques/Octagons
- there were no original CDI plaques featured in the movie, so all plaques are tributes
- the blue and red ceramic plaques were first plaques to be made, not sure of the make, could be Palm Gaming Int'l, Nevada Jacks, BRPro, etc.
- there were others made afterwards - octagon ceramics, MSK gaming plastic plaques, etc.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...-from-msk-gaming-ends-10-31-2020.63949/page-2

 

[Tonysquander]

Here is my thread with lots of information on the CDI98 version:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/casino-de-isthmus-cdi98-journey.137930/

 

[horseshoez]

This is to the best of my knowledge, so please correct me if I'm wrong.
Pictures below I have saved in the past for reference and have no reference of accreditation (sorry!) I will remove upon request.

CDI = Casino de Isthmus City
CDI chips were originally made for the 007 movie "License to Kill" (1989). This is the fictional casino featured in the movie.

CDI chips in order of rarity / value (from highest to lowest):

1) CDI Movie prop chips, Paulson THC mold with shaped inlay
- Some of these chips were made for the 007 movie "License to Kill" (1989). There aren't a lot of real prop chips floating around today. But the most famous chip is the $10 shaped inlay chip, as shown in the opening sequence to the movie.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...no-de-isthmus-city-10-red-shaped-inlay.88603/
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...98-1000s-43mm-ultra-rare-unicorns-ihc.105836/
- it seems that only this $10 actual prop is pictured prominent in the movie, and the other other possible props are the $50 (and solid blue non-denom). However, those other ones were not visibly seen in the movie (I think).
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/cdi98-movie-prop-50.112177/
View attachment 1616760 View attachment 1616762View attachment 1616761View attachment 1616764View attachment 1616763

2) '98 CDI Paulson THC mold, shaped and round inlays
- These were Paulson-made post movie, so not actual props. The shaped inlays were made in earlier years (not all denoms are shaped), while the round inlays were made in the later years.
- These are excellent quality chips in enough quantities to build playable sets, and and are "leaded." As you will find out (or have already found out), "leaded THCs" are seen as the best quality Paulsons you can buy. Leaded = heavier weight. Today's new Paulson chips are not leaded, and they will never go back to the leaded formula (EPC issue), so in a way, the quantities of leaded THCs are limited.
- This set is a damn good price, the only problem is the limited amount of people wanting to drop $15k at once.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...cdi-98-set-the-whole-thing-price-drop.109339/
View attachment 1616766View attachment 1616765

3) '05 CDI PAULSON CHIPS mold
- Paulson made another run of these CDIs due to popular demand in 2005, after they reopened to the home market. They offered these on the PAULSON CHIPS mold, which although is actually a great-feeling heavy mold, the "PAULSON CHIPS" lettering does not appeal to a lot of folks. (The chips are solid like bricks though, like all the other chips made on this mold)
View attachment 1616767

4) CDI, BCC Flame/Shell mold
- BCC was also making the CDIs in the early 2000s, even before the Paulson '05 CDIs. The chips were lighter than Paulsons by about 1g, They were cheaper in price, and the quality isn't as good and consistent as Paulson (BCC's formula is always slightly different than Paulson, even though it was operated by the same Endy family members).
- BCC chips in general is a crapshoot. You placed an order and either it came out fantastic or has tons of errors (misshapen inlays, dry chips, split edges, spinners etc. etc.). It was a pain to deal with getting more chips made to correct the errors
- BCC was acquired by GPI in 2013 and downgraded to very limited low-cost chip sales with only 10colors, no longer makes chips for public market
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/paris-sold-and-bcc-cdi-cashsets-price-lowered.110175/
View attachment 1616768View attachment 1616769
note the misshapen inlays

5) CDI, TINA Card Mold
- yet another copy of CDI, now from TINA (generic name for Chinese producer) on the cards hybrid mold (basically ceramic chips with mold indentations)
- basically worthless, unlimited copies to be produced on demand
View attachment 1616770

CDI, Plaques/Octagons
- there were no original CDI plaques featured in the movie, so all plaques are tributes
- the blue and red ceramic plaques were first plaques to be made, not sure of the make, could be Palm Gaming Int'l, Nevada Jacks, BRPro, etc.
- there were others made afterwards - octagon ceramics, MSK gaming plastic plaques, etc.
View attachment 1616771View attachment 1616772View attachment 1616773
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...-from-msk-gaming-ends-10-31-2020.63949/page-2

I think @sleepypiggly pretty much closed the door in anybody's face that wants to add any information lol Incredible explanation. Touché.

 

[FDLmold]

More movie chips.

 

[doublebooyah85]

More movie chips.
View attachment 1617013

Never seen so many together! Where is this from?

 

[doublebooyah85]

More movie chips.
View attachment 1617013

@justincarothers can we get a dealer button made just like that coaster?

 

[justincarothers]

@justincarothers can we get a dealer button made just like that coaster?

Of course

 

[Tonysquander]

Never seen so many together! Where is this from?

It was that uber expensive Christie’s auction from a few years ago. Didn’t those go with the tuxedo etc. for like $30,000+ USD or so after all fees, etc. added in?

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...upcoming-christies-auction-grail-chips.92809/

 

[doublebooyah85]

Of course

Love it. LFG!

 

[FDLmold]

Never seen so many together! Where is this from?

Some highfalutin auction a few years ago. You had to buy a movie worn tux to also get the chips, something like that.

 

[BiGGyT]

That last picture looks familiar @sleepypiggly

I sold the ceramic plaques since this picture.

To add, for the paulson 98, there were some additional differences in older chips where the inlay was a lighter green, and the $5 were a deeper red (and some oversized chips were produced).

I bought these a rack or small set at a time starting back 20 years ago, so I see most variations in my set (except oversized).
Cheers,
T

 

[PokerDogDoc]

@sleepypiggly , @Tonysquander , & @BiGGyT , thanks for all of this!
Very, very helpful and interesting!

A few more questions and observations, if I may…

If you just want to refer to each letter when answering, that may be easier for you

A) I’m assuming the 98 in CDI98 and the 05 in CDI05 refer to the first year Paulson made their publicly available chips in each of these iterations?

B) Any ideas why Paulson didn’t make the $500 CDI98 and CDI05 chip in pink to match the movie prop?

C) Interesting that they didn’t make the $100s the same edge spot patterns and colors as the movie prop! (as seen in @FDLmold ’s post)

D) And you say the early versions of the CDI98 had shaped inlays (for some denominations, namely the $5, $25, $100, and $500), but later runs only had round inlays… and CDI05 never had shaped inlays… do I have that right?

E) Curious that in the 05’s Paulson changed the edge spot patterns to match across all chips, and (obviously) the spot colors changed too. Maybe this made it logistically easier to mass produce them as each chip was basically an identically patterned chip with just a different base color and substituted edge spot colors + the specific inlay… Do we know anything about why they did this?

Thanks again.

 

[PokerDogDoc]

@justincarothers can we get a dealer button made just like that coaster?

Of course

@BiGGyT … who made these dealer buttons for you? Still available?
These thin ones are definitely more my style than the thick acrylic ones.

 

[Tonysquander]

A) I’m assuming the 98 in CDI98 and the 05 in CDI05 refer to the first year Paulson made their publicly available chips in each of these iterations?

That was before my chipping days, but I generally believe this is correct.

B) Any ideas why Paulson didn’t make the $500 CDI98 and CDI05 chip in pink to match the movie prop?

Probably because the movie props were purchased by a third party (the movie folks) and the CDI98s were mass production for the public. Allegedly Paulson keeps track of all chips made and will not do exact reproductions of base and edge spot configurations and colors previously sold to third party customers. I have never neen part of a direct buy so cannot say for sure what limitations are placed on same. The CDIs share color combos with other chips produced for sale to the public like VLVs for example.

C) Interesting that they didn’t make the $100s the same edge spot patterns and colors as the movie prop! (as seen in @FDLmold ’s post)

Agree. See above. Would have been a banger bear claw!

D) And you say the early versions of the CDI98 had shaped inlays (for some denominations, namely the $5, $25, $100, and $500), but later runs only had round inlays… and CDI05 never had shaped inlays… do I have that right?

I don’t know that they started with just shaped inlays. I think both were in production, but far fewer shaped inlays were made based upon what I have seen available for purchase over the years. The biggest tell is the faded versus darker ink on the inlays. Faded appearing or light ink is a hallmark of the early chips and the darker ink the later chips. The early chips also had paper based inlays under the laminate which many can attest are a massive PITA to remove. That might also partly explain the difference in inlay ink appearance.

E) Curious that in the 05’s Paulson changed the edge spot patterns to match across all chips, and (obviously) the spot colors changed too. Maybe this made it logistically easier to mass produce them as each chip was basically an identically patterned chip with just a different base color and substituted edge spot colors + the specific inlay… Do we know anything about why they did this?

No idea. I have always focused on the CDI98s.

 

[sleepypiggly]

E) Curious that in the 05’s Paulson changed the edge spot patterns to match across all chips, and (obviously) the spot colors changed too. Maybe this made it logistically easier to mass produce them as each chip was basically an identically patterned chip with just a different base color and substituted edge spot colors + the specific inlay… Do we know anything about why they did this?

It was around 2005 when Paulson decided to offer chips again to the home market after a business decision to stop earlier. The first one of those sets is the famous Pharaoh's Club & Casino on the PAULSON CHIPS mold.

Part of the restrictions Paulson placed on home market sales was a completely different mold (PAULSON CHIPS) and very specific color & spot combos. There were a few lines made with those combos, including CDI, Classics, etc.

It was only later on that Paulson decided to add more base/spot combos to the offerings.

 

[BiGGyT]

@BiGGyT … who made these dealer buttons for you? Still available?
These thin ones are definitely more my style than the thick acrylic ones.

View attachment 1617137

It was a long time ago, the DB were part of a sale, i think was on Chiptalk. They are not quality, would rather have the type available now. The plaques being Matsui seemed like a better quality than the plastic or ceramic ones. I would honestly preferred ones that resemble the original plaques that show up sometimes.

 

[sleepypiggly]

I would honestly preferred ones that resemble the original plaques that show up sometimes.

These? Very nice and clean looking.

pic from @bjjensen
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/did-they-use-casino-de-isthmus-chips-in-golden-eye-too.9246/

 

[BiGGyT]

Yes, those.

 

[nychips]

I’ve always loved CDI chips and am familiar with the James Bond background, but would love for some knowledgeable person to give me a ‘primer’ on the various iterations of these chips.

A little compare and contrast, if you will.

I see there are some differences in edge spot layouts and inlay designs, but I’m not fully grasping all the significant differences between CDI, CDI 98, CDI 05, etc.

Photos of the various designs would be amazing, too!

Ok great stuff. So the one with the “ PAULSON CHIPS” is not James Bond and less valuable?

 

[Tonysquander]

Ok great stuff. So the one with the “ PAULSON CHIPS” is not James Bond and less valuable?

It is known as CDI’05. Generally, those sell for less than the CDI’98s. It is a later movie based replica version made with a different mold.

 

[Tonysquander]

Ok great stuff. So the one with the “ PAULSON CHIPS” is not James Bond and less valuable?

Those were brought to market in 2005 by Apache. Paulson had stopped selling to distributors/the public in 2003 and Apache Poker Chips made a deal w/ it to bring some back and that was the first line available for home use again per its website:

https://www.apachepokerchips.com/about-us/