I like the gold foil hotstamps... The Starburst symbol is appealing (to my eye at least) and maybe makes them feel more like currency, subliminally...
I also prefer undenominated chips because they can be used for different types of games and purposes, as you suggest. I see people struggling to complete sets with specific denominations (e.g. fracs) and think, “Wow, this is hard enough without also having to match the dollar/cents.”
My main problem is I don’t like playing with more worn/faded hotstamps—they start to look rusty or dirty... and it is often hard to know what you are getting from a seller unless you really quiz them and get clear pics. That’s why I try to provide good pictures of representative faces to those who are buying, and to note clearly if some stamps and edges are less than clean/crisp. If someone asks, I’ll take a snap of both sides of every chip.
For my own sets (I have separate tourney and cash sets, plus some extras) I try to only keep chips with bright stamps in excellent condition. This makes collecting them tougher. It is rare to buy a whole rack of chips I can use, though I’m getting better at avoiding mistakes by asking the right questions.
I have not yet had any chips milled and labeled. At some point if my sets’ hotstamps start to break down I will, but hosting just two games per month, that may be a long time...
I also prefer undenominated chips because they can be used for different types of games and purposes, as you suggest. I see people struggling to complete sets with specific denominations (e.g. fracs) and think, “Wow, this is hard enough without also having to match the dollar/cents.”
My main problem is I don’t like playing with more worn/faded hotstamps—they start to look rusty or dirty... and it is often hard to know what you are getting from a seller unless you really quiz them and get clear pics. That’s why I try to provide good pictures of representative faces to those who are buying, and to note clearly if some stamps and edges are less than clean/crisp. If someone asks, I’ll take a snap of both sides of every chip.
For my own sets (I have separate tourney and cash sets, plus some extras) I try to only keep chips with bright stamps in excellent condition. This makes collecting them tougher. It is rare to buy a whole rack of chips I can use, though I’m getting better at avoiding mistakes by asking the right questions.
I have not yet had any chips milled and labeled. At some point if my sets’ hotstamps start to break down I will, but hosting just two games per month, that may be a long time...
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