Trying to acquire 1-5 very rare, expensive singles (1 Viewer)

[ConsensualPresidency]

Disclaimers - 1) I understand this is a ChipBoard question, I’m not a part of that crowd (yet) so I’m starting here. 2) I also know the search function is my friend, but I wanted to socialize the question first to maybe help guide me down the rabbit hole.

A long-time friend from back home in WI asked for my help in acquiring 1-5 rare singles, or ideally one extremely rare casino chip. Something that's near impossible to get.

He’s a big time sports card collector/trader/broker. He’d be displaying the chip(s) as sort of a showcase/coversation piece alongside his other cool memoriabilia.

He'd also be using the chip(s) as a value store, so I want to make sure I find him something that he could get sell & get his money back should he ever need to.

I asked for a budget & he broadly stated $1k~15k. However, based on the tenor of the conversation, I suspect the very top end of his budget might be higher, (perhaps considerably so) for the right piece.

Lastly, this is a standing, long-term ask, he didn’t expect immediate results.

Any thoughts? Do I just need to bite the bullet and go try to ingratiate myself with the good folks on the other forum?

 

[doublebooyah85]

Go to the chip show in June and make a Vegas trip out of it.

 

[ConsensualPresidency]

Go to the chip show in June and make a Vegas trip out of it.

Thanks! I just pitched that idea to him

 

[doublebooyah85]

Thanks! I just pitched that idea to him

If he agrees find me a few dunes $500 lol

 

[OfficerLovejoy]

I'm not an expert on the high end singles market by any means.
Just keep in mind that someone at some point in the future might find a few hundred of that exact chip at an estate sale.
It's not a completely risc free investment. But then again - what is?

 

[Dingdingding]

I'm not an expert on the high end singles market by any means.
Just keep in mind that someone at some point in the future might find a few hundred of that exact chip at an estate sale.
It's not a completely risc free investment. But then again - what is?

Yes, i think that is an important point. Imho I would advise your friend against this as an investment.

There is two main reasons:
1. Casino chips are not unique obviously but were made in more or less large batches. The priciest ones are those of which only a handful or less are known to still exist. But no one knows if the niece of a former employee or someone like that finds a few racks on the attic in a couple of months.

2. You already mentioned the chipboard... And the fact that the chipboard still exists as the main platform for collectors in its current shape is telling us something about the demographic structure of singles collectors. This is something similar to stamps or coins... Although chips are much cooler of course.

You can however hedge against this by a few means. One of them is reducing volatility in numbers that exist by buying a larger amount, i.e. something like the Cotton Club rack auctioned for 3k here lately instead of a single chip for the same price. Hedging against the small and rather old (sorry guys) singles collector base could work by looking for something that is of interest for other groups too. Like for example an old flamingo chip, that would spark the interest of both chip collectors and mob memorabilia collectors at the same time.

Imho the safest variant would be to buy a decent set of Vegas or Nevada casino clay that will work for both, collectors and players with a decent taste later on. That way you could hedge against both, the volatility of ultra-small numbers of known-to-exist-chips and against singles collectors as the only future buyers if you want to get out of your investment. And if the value should still go down, he'd still have a very and playable poker set.

 

[ekricket]

@greenchip

 

[WedgeRock]

I thought the Bucket of Blood Saloon $5 went for a lot more than $250.

https://topshelfchips.com/products/5-bucket-of-blood-saloon-casino-chip-virginia-city-nevada-4069

 

[ekricket]

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/identify-my-chip.115351/

 

[Okku]

I can always help you!

 

[greenchip]

If you don't find anything cool from anyone else, hit me up.

I've got nice Vegas singles I never post for sale, but looking to let go some due to unexpected medical bills.

Price range is $50-$800.

 

[JWC]

I have one of these available:

It’s over his ceiling, but definitely an amazing chip. Note that the scan above came from the museum of gaming history, and I can send actual pictures if there is interest. PM me if you want to discuss further.