Looking for info on my antique chips (2 Viewers)

[Zaphod]

I have some chips that I know are antique, but I'm having trouble finding any information on them. They feel and sound like plastic and have raised numbers and edges (or recessed inlays, whichever way you want to look at it) that indicate production in a mold. I ran an image search on the pictures attached and found this article from the National Museum of American History which dates them to the 1890's. This is way earlier than I expected with the color scheme, which feels like late 50's / early 60's. The only other hits were a couple eBay listings that included similar chips without any information.

One of the most interesting characteristics of them to me is that the numbers (which I assume are denominations) are 1, 5, 15 (not pictured), 55, and 100. This seems an odd choice to use 55 instead of 50 and indicates to me that there might have been a popular game that scored to 55 points.

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_2799

Any info or insight is appreciated.

 

[LeLe]

With the very evenly round edge throughout every chip in the pic and a very zoom close up of one of the chips, they look very much like Plastic chips to me.

As for value, a lot of the "antique chip" that hold a lot of value are generally make of Clay (Casino Grade) or they are from one of the well-known Old Casino retired chips.

With that, no idea on how much actual values are these chips worth.

 

[Zaphod]

Thanks for the info! I'm less concerned with figuring out their value than I am figuring out their history. Things like what they would have been used for - were they made as poker chips or for some other game, why they have a denomination of 55, how long they were used and if they would have been cheap or expensive to own in their time.

 

[Tonysquander]

This guy appears to have some similar ones, not much information in his listing though. Maybe reach out to him to see if he has any idea on where these came from.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/374192772915

 

[LeLe]

Thanks for the info! I'm less concerned with figuring out their value than I am figuring out their history. Things like what they would have been used for - were they made as poker chips or for some other game, why they have a denomination of 55, how long they were used and if they would have been cheap or expensive to own in their time.

They are 100% not use as denomination / value as an average family make $500-$1000 annually in the 1890

More like food stamps or something, maybe 55 means a special menu item? Or just Table / House 55

 

[Zaphod]

This guy appears to have some similar ones, not much information in his listing though. Maybe reach out to him to see if he has any idea on where these came from.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/374192772915

Thanks! I hadn't found that listing when I searched eb for them.

 

[BGinGA]

Might try asking on the Chip Board, several of those guys collect weird and unique old stuff.

Also might try seaching "old game markers with 55" etc. to see if you get any hits. I dunno the rules, but Faro and some other odd games were played back at the turn of the last century.