My Fantasy Illegal Casino Chip

[TimmyP]

Here is a little poll on the back of my newest mock up. Which back do you like best a, b, or c?



Comments on the face of the chip are also welcome.
Later I will probably order some ceramics samples from ABC.
A big explanation of what I was trying to do follows.

My Fantasy Illegal Casino Chip, ‘The Castle Royal’

Well here is the idea or background behind this Illegal Casino fantasy chip design. Saint Paul Minnesota my hometown, was notorious during prohibition as a safe haven for Chicago Gangsters. The Chief of Police John O'Connor was taking bribes from the likes of, Ma Barker and John Dillinger.



1, One of the famous Nightclub/Speakeasy/Illegal Casinos was the, "The Castle Royal" a popular haunt of infamous gangsters in the 30's and where many of the big bands played like Cab Calloway, Harry James, and the Dorsey Brothers. They played out front while the illicit gambling went on in the back.
Now called the Wabasha Street Caves, it only hosts catered events and a weekly Swing dance night and a Saturday Gangster Tour. You can go into the main ballroom to see the bullet holes of a triple homicide that never happened. Early one morning one of the cleaning ladies discovered the three bodies of some low level Chicago mobsters. It was a poker game gone bad, chips, cards and blood were splashed on the floor. When the police finally arrived (Rumor is that it took some time.) the bodies were gone along with all the other evidence. The only thing they couldn’t hide were the bullet holes in the limestone cave walls.

Other Illegal Casinos in the Twin Cities,

2, The St. Paul Recreation Company - a billiard room, cigar stand, gym, boxing ring, and bowling alley - the basement of this Chicago-styled building housed one of the city's biggest illegal gambling operations. The gambling dens have long been converted into offices.

3, Criminal, Emil "Dutch" Nelson in Minneapolis, Dutch was a leading racketeer here, with interests in many Minnesota area clubs. The Dutch's Club (also known as Metropole Club) was at 26 Washington Ave. South. This photo is in the Gateway area of Minneapolis, and his club would have been just off to the right of the Four Roses drug store. All most of the buildings were torn down wholesale as part of wholesale urban renewal. It is now a parking lot. Inset is a chip from that Casino.

Where to Start on the chips,
4, These are the chips I used as examples of illegals that had design elements that I wanted to incorporate into my chip.

1. Simple denominations; no dollar signs.
2. Color limited two or three colors for each chip;
Black & White and the color of the chip.
3. A very Club specific center logo.
4. Incorporate the stylized initials of the club.
5. Full club name and city name ring.

I realized it would take two different inlays one front and a back to do it all. Most chips of this era both sides are identical.

[kmalsom]

Very cool idea

[Gaflax]

I have had a thought of doing something like this as well. But,I haven't done the research you have done. I like option C the best. You are on the right track in my opinion. GL with the design.

[gpc]

I chose C because I think everything in bold helps make it more of the negative of the other. Amazing work on these.