Guma,
A $2.50 is designed to more efficiently pay off a natural 21 (blackjack) when there is a $5 bet. If there is no $2.50, the dealer has to pluck a $5, two $1's and a 50 cent piece. With a $2.50 chip, the dealer plucks a $5 and a $2.50. But the action is so quick, and often with flair, when the dealer plucks the $5, they will slam it against the $2.50 in the same motion they use to pluck that $2.50 from the tray. That slam creates a distinctive sound (a snap) and over the years the $2.50, in many gaming circles, is called a snapper.
Jim (Gaming Ore) Follis
EDIT!!! Well, with much chagrine, I have been corrected about this (by none other than Gene Trimble, CC>CC Hall of Fame member. Gene advises that even though the chips may be plucked out this way, it is not how they got their name.
Turns out it was great story, but not exactly accurate and now I need to find out the rest of the story. Sorry, more to follow! (J(GO)F 1/25/0
