[Gaming Ore]

In a thread started earlier this date by Harlequin011 ( http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/chip-c...a-johnson.html } that I did not want to hijack, he posted an autographed $5 gaming chip autographed by Linda Johnson, First Lady of Poker. This thread is about autographed chips in-general, as autographed chip collecting is but another sub-set category of casino chip collecting.

There are several collectors that focus on getting celebrity autographs on chips, usually in one or both of two types of categories. The first category is the autograph of a celebrity that is being commemorated on an actual chip. As an example, this $5, Fiesta Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV "Sports Edition" 1998 D. Williams commemorative is autographed by Mr. Williams (a well known player/coach/manager).



The Fiesta often did Sports Edition commemorative chip releases and also had the individuals commemorated on-hand for several hours to sign the chips. This is/was done in the same vein (or vain) as sport celebrity signing events.

The second type is getting any celebrity to sign whatever chip you happen to have on-hand. Many collectors of this type will carry extra chips (and Sharpies) and the preferred chips to carry around, is one that is predominantly white; like a Tropicana, Las vegas $1, or an older Excalibur, Las Vegas $1 or even this $1, Palace Station, Las Vegas, NV which was autographed by Debbie Reynolds.



There is no exact science to this, and often times the autograph is tough to authenticate, and often times its just something special for the collector. In fact, it is not unusual for the autograph to erode the value of the chip.

Debbie Reynolds had her own Las Vegas casino some years ago that went out-of-business. They only had $5 and $25 chips and those chips are rather pricey right now ($5 chips are $50 - $59 and $25 chips are $200 - $299). An autographed $5 will probably be valued the same, while an autographed $25 will drop in value. The rationale is that by signing the chip, it in effect damages the chip!

Anyone with autographed chips is welcome to post scans (and stories) here. Thanks for looking.

Jim (Gaming Ore) Follis

[Harlequin011]

Thanks for starting this thread Jim, but your posts are always welcome in any of my threads.

[ross]

Originally Posted by Gaming Ore

Anyone with autographed chips is welcome to post scans (and stories) here. Thanks for looking.

Jim (Gaming Ore) Follis

OK, here are a couple..

Bob is a real nice guy. Very personable.


and another for fun...

[Gaming Ore]

Nice ones Ross. Even a poker related one!!! How appropriate.

Did you get the later one while playing against him?

Jim

[Gaming Ore]

Signing chips is pretty difficult, so don't always expect perfect penmanship. Here is a pic of Charo signed chip. Notice tht the chip is upside down!



This is from a couple years ago at the Tropicana (Las Vegas) following her induction into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame.

Jim

[ross]

Originally Posted by Gaming Ore

Nice ones Ross. Even a poker related one!!! How appropriate.

Did you get the later one while playing against him?

Jim

No, but he will probably be playing BARGE this year so I will ask him then. I also have one from Greg Raymer - somewhere around here... I wish I got a second set of the millionaires chips. I've met a few of them since then and didnt have the chip with me.