Metal chips vs Clay chips (1 Viewer)

[FlushMD]

Sorry for so many questions, but I'm eagerly learning from my new chip friends at PCF!

What is the history of metal chips (coins)? I assume there was a date after which most casinos switched to clay chips, the lighter, quieter more stackable alternative. When did the switch occur? I assume there are no casinos in operation today that use metal chips.

I pulled my collection out of storage and found I had barrels and barrels of metal chips from various casinos. Some look very old and are likely considered antiques. Like the used corsette, I thought these were relatively of no value. To my surprise, some are actually worth something. Always good news!

 

[AlbinoDragon]

Metal chips are tokens. Used for slot machines before the TITO systems they use now.

If you go back far enough, you will see casinos with no $1 chips as they used silver dollars (real silver, then modern coinage) likely because they were already available and in general use. Once those went away with preference to the paper $1 bill, casinos started making $1 chips.

Fun fact, a modern casino chip is the same diameter as a silver dollar. Coincidence? I think not.

 

[Dingdingding]

Metal chips are tokens. Used for slot machines before the TITO systems they use now.

If you go back far enough, you will see casinos with no $1 chips as they used silver dollars (real silver, then modern coinage) likely because they were already available and in general use. Once those went away with preference to the paper $1 bill, casinos started making $1 chips.

Fun fact, a modern casino chip is the same diameter as a silver dollar. Coincidence? I think not.

This is something i really wondered a lot about when looking at stuff like the El Rancho Vegas... Could never get over the fact that their lowest denom chips were $5 which equals like 60-70 USD today.

Thank you for that insight!