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Found a $1000 poker Chip!
wiplash
Member Posts: 7,145 ✭✭
I took my ATV out for a ride today at the Nellis Sand Dunes.
About five years ago the guy's who run the buggy rentals told me of a Gambler who rented one and lost five $1000 Poker Chips out of his pocket. I thought they were just messing with me so I just shined it on.
Well, I came riding up over a Dune and there it was! I picked it up and turned it over to see what Casino it was from and it said, "Mark Swain Las Vegas". Uh Oh!
When I got home I looked it up and found out that it was not a real Poker Chip BUT, It was from the 50s!
Mark Swain was the Director of Sales at the Stardust Hotel, (and Enforcer for the Mob). He gave these Chips to High Rollers and Important people. It was like his business card.
But not all is lost, It is worth some money, and I found some pretty cool History!
About five years ago the guy's who run the buggy rentals told me of a Gambler who rented one and lost five $1000 Poker Chips out of his pocket. I thought they were just messing with me so I just shined it on.
Well, I came riding up over a Dune and there it was! I picked it up and turned it over to see what Casino it was from and it said, "Mark Swain Las Vegas". Uh Oh!
When I got home I looked it up and found out that it was not a real Poker Chip BUT, It was from the 50s!
Mark Swain was the Director of Sales at the Stardust Hotel, (and Enforcer for the Mob). He gave these Chips to High Rollers and Important people. It was like his business card.
But not all is lost, It is worth some money, and I found some pretty cool History!
There is no such thing as Liberal Men, only Liberal Women with Penises.'
Comments
I took my ATV out for a ride today at the Nellis Sand Dunes.
About five years ago the guy's who run the buggy rentals told me of a Gambler who rented one and lost five $1000 Poker Chips out of his pocket. I thought they were just messing with me so I just shined it on.
Well, I came riding up over a Dune and there it was! I picked it up and turned it over to see what Casino it was from and it said, "Mark Swain Las Vegas". Uh Oh!
When I got home I looked it up and found out that it was not a real Poker Chip BUT, It was from the 50s!
Mark Swain was the Director of Sales at the Stardust Hotel, (and Enforcer for the Mob). He gave these Chips to High Rollers and Important people. It was like his business card.
But not all is lost, It is worth some money, and I found some pretty cool History!
I took my ATV out for a ride today at the Nellis Sand Dunes.
About five years ago the guy's who run the buggy rentals told me of a Gambler who rented one and lost five $1000 Poker Chips out of his pocket. I thought they were just messing with me so I just shined it on.
Well, I came riding up over a Dune and there it was! I picked it up and turned it over to see what Casino it was from and it said, "Mark Swain Las Vegas". Uh Oh!
When I got home I looked it up and found out that it was not a real Poker Chip BUT, It was from the 50s!
Mark Swain was the Director of Sales at the Stardust Hotel, (and Enforcer for the Mob). He gave these Chips to High Rollers and Important people. It was like his business card.
But not all is lost, It is worth some money, and I found some pretty cool History!
Well now you can pass yourself off as a "high roller" or an "important person"[:D]....nice find.
http://img.inkfrog.com/click_enlarge1.php?image=IMG_2479_0003.JPG&username=jtaber1&aid=788209133
I can't help but wonder if it was "lost" on purpose to bring the finder to the Stardust.
Cool find! This one sold a few days ago for $109.50.
http://img.inkfrog.com/click_enlarge1.php?image=IMG_2479_0003.JPG&username=jtaber1&aid=788209133
I can't help but wonder if it was "lost" on purpose to bring the finder to the Stardust.
The one that I have is older. It has a picture of what looks like a Grey Hound on it.
The Stardust is closed now but even if it was still open I wouldn't go there. When the Mob left, Vegas went down hill.
Whale
Huh?
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
Whale
Huh?
Whale=extremely HIGH ROLLER
quote:Originally posted by wiplash
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
Whale
Huh?
Whale=extremely HIGH ROLLER
Ok, I never heard of that one before!
Dan
I think you could expand on that story, do a little more research and write it up real good. Likely add to the value of the chip. Even if you choose to keep it, put a story in there with it. Great find. I love stories like that, with history behind them, and untold stories that likely would curl your hair!
Dan
I'll see what I can do Dan, What I found out on this Chip only took about 15 minutes.
Here's another little piece of Vegas history that a lot of people don't know about. One of the major Casinos changed the design of their Chips back in the 60s I believe, and tossed thousands of the old ones into the deepest part of Lake Mead! And, they were made of Silver!
Did you comb the desert to see if there were more?
Now that I know basically where to look, I may just try that![:D]
Metal Detectors are worthless though. There is so much garbage under the sand, Nuts and bolts, ATV Motorcycle and vehicle parts, even old Military crashed Planes, that it would take a week to cover a few feet!
A high quality discrimination detector would work well. It could be programmed to only signal on an object of the exact same metallic composition. A Whites DFX would do it.
How many Chip's would I have to find in order to buy one?[;)]
quote:Originally posted by Knifecollector
A high quality discrimination detector would work well. It could be programmed to only signal on an object of the exact same metallic composition. A Whites DFX would do it.
How many Chip's would I have to find in order to buy one?[;)]
About a dozen, looks like!
All this and no photo![:(]
I just knew someone was going to ask! I hate photobucket, its such a pain in the *! This is the same one though.[;)]
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-mark-swain-1000-poker-chip-stardust-las
I wonder what the Pawn guys downtown would give for it since its a part of Vegas history.
People who go there rip themselves off just to get they're 15 minutes of fame!
Cool find! Better be careful not to dig too deep out there in the desert! You might find the boney fingers of the poor sap that was holding on to that chip! Them ole mobster's treated the desert like it was Forest Lawn Cemetery.
They preferred the Lake, and bricks or Concrete![;)]
quote:Originally posted by Laredo Lefty
I wonder what the Pawn guys downtown would give for it since its a part of Vegas history.
To get on the show, you have to send a letter to the producers detailing what you have and when you will be in Vegas. IF they are interested, you MAY get on the show........and it's just another TV production for entertainment.
No different than wrestling, football, bowling, etc.
[:D][:D]
Of course it is. He doesn't need to go on TV to find out what it would be worth to the Pawn shop.