Motor City Quarters (1 Viewer)

[codeman00]

I've been curious about the Motor City Quarters and why they are in existence. I assume it would cost the casino much more to buy them than they are worth. What are they used for in the casino? It's just odd these days for a casino to have a $0.25 frac. It seems like the casino would be ultra protective of them.

That being said, I would love to have a couple of racks of them to relabel for my Grand Victoria secondary set. The chip color seems to match the spot color of the secondary $5. The price is way over my head though for fracs. I'd love to be able to get to that casino and take a couple of racks!

 

[btbmason]

They are used for commission in table games such as baccarat and pai gow.

I'm not sure how easy these are to harvest and if you still can, but most casinos are really protective about letting their quarter chips out.

Be careful trying to label those as well, the inlay is larger than normal and extends onto the mold area of the chip.

 

[ChipEnvy]

They were used on the Pai-Gow tables. It was or may still be a Michigan law to not use currency in the casino. They were extreamly hard to get out of the casino, and coupled with their awesomeness make them spendy to come by.

 

[codeman00]

Now it makes sense...thanks for that explanation. I can't imagine how difficult it was to harvest those.

So the inlays area of the Motor City chips aren't the same as the Grand Victoria chips? I can only go by photos but they look the same. Maybe they aren't. That would be great if they weren't good relabel candidates so I could end this pipe dream before it starts. It's much easier on me that way.

 

[upNdown]

Now it makes sense...thanks for that explanation. I can't imagine how difficult it was to harvest those.

So the inlays area of the Motor City chips aren't the same as the Grand Victoria chips? I can only go by photos but they look the same. Maybe they aren't. That would be great if they weren't good relabel candidates so I could end this pipe dream before it starts. It's much easier on me that way.

Nope. Look how the inlay extends over part of the top hat. The grand Vic's have Grand size inlays. The inlays on these motor city quarters are slightly bigger, called Super Grand size.

 

[detroitdad]

I have two racks. They go great with my PNY's

 

[krafticus]

Nope. Look how the inlay extends over part of the top hat. The grand Vic's have Grand size inlays. The inlays on these motor city quarters are slightly bigger, called Super Grand size.
View attachment 101366

You don't see too many with that spot pattern. Not sure if they are the older version??

 

[upNdown]

You don't see too many with that spot pattern. Not sure if they are the older version??

Newer? Chipguide says they were only in play for 3 weeks. I'd love to know the story there.
http://www.themogh.org/cg_chip2.php?id=MIDEMC

 

[codeman00]

I have two racks. They go great with my PNY's

smh...I should have bought that Motor City Set! If it would have come with another rack of fives, I might have.

Nope. Look how the inlay extends over part of the top hat. The grand Vic's have Grand size inlays. The inlays on these motor city quarters are slightly bigger, called Super Grand size.

This is great news. What a shame to make such a large inlay and expose less of the chip color. Although it's an awesome chip as is. Now I'm not so worried about it.

 

[justsomedude]

I've been curious about the Motor City Quarters and why they are in existence. I assume it would cost the casino much more to buy them than they are worth. What are they used for in the casino? It's just odd these days for a casino to have a $0.25 frac. It seems like the casino would be ultra protective of them.

This is common for most lower denom currencies. The USA still loses money on the cost of pennies and nickels. With a penny running about 2-cents each to manufacture, and nickels running about 12-cents each to produce. In the case of the latter, that's almost 2.5x the face value. Things get better with quarters on up.

Currency, whether a casino's or a country's, is often more about managing/controlling security and transactions, than just the cost of production. And with the Motor City quarters likely occupying a small percentage of the total value racks, I'm sure they weren't too concerned with the cost of production relative to the face value.

 

[WedgeRock]

They are used for commission in table games such as baccarat and pai gow.

Exactly.

I'm not sure how easy these are to harvest and if you still can, but most casinos are really protective about letting their quarter chips out.

Depends. I always checked multiple cages when cashing out. Sometimes you could pick up a couple of chips. I did hear of one guy (MadeInDetroit) getting a whole rack from the cage. he immediately sent them to Hannahan Stan (RIP) as a thank you for recent hospitality.

 

[btbmason]

Depends. I always checked multiple cages when cashing out. Sometimes you could pick up a couple of chips. I did hear of one guy (MadeInDetroit) getting a whole rack from the cage. he immediately sent them to Hannahan Stan (RIP) as a thank you for recent hospitality.

I'll be in Detroit at the end of the month and I may swing by to see if I can get a hold of some. I've been (passively) looking for a rack, but the typical price point is over what I'm willing to pay.

The last time I tried to get live quarters from a casino I was yelled at by 2 different dealers and a pit boss, but it wasn't Motor City.

They told me they never gave out the chips to players anymore, they only use them for dealer tokes when someone tosses them quarters from the commission/change on baccarat. There were less than 100 total in the trays spread out over 3 tables. I only asked for 4 and was turned down at each table. They were really aggressive about it too, I haven't been back since.

 

[detroitdad]

I'll be in Detroit at the end of the month and I may swing by to see if I can get a hold of some. I've been (passively) looking for a rack, but the typical price point is over what I'm willing to pay.

The last time I tried to get live quarters from a casino I was yelled at by 2 different dealers and a pit boss, but it wasn't Motor City.

They told me they never gave out the chips to players anymore, they only use them for dealer tokes when someone tosses them quarters from the commission/change on baccarat. There were less than 100 total in the trays spread out over 3 tables. I only asked for 4 and was turned down at each table. They were really aggressive about it too, I haven't been back since.

@WedgeRock might be at the game on the 30th. Ill show of my two racks..... of mc quarters

 

[WedgeRock]

The last time I tried to get live quarters from a casino I was yelled at by 2 different dealers and a pit boss, but it wasn't Motor City.

The floor knows how valuable the chips are. The cage doesn't necessarily know. Cash out across various cages, ask if they have any quarters that you can buy as a souvenir. Make sure you tip.

FWIW, I found MGM was easier than Motor City, but its been awhile since I tried to harvest at either.

 

[BGinGA]

I spent $360 (counting losses and tips) harvesting 39 x 25c chips playing Pai Gow at Southern Horseshoe.

Dealer tried to pay me in US coin quarters and I asked for the quarter chips - he said he couldn't let me have them. I pitched a fit, saying if I wanted to play with pocket change, I could stay at home and play with my kids - you have real 25c chips sitting right there, use 'em. Pit boss agreed, but said I couldn't keep them. However, once he sauntered off, the game was on.

Subsequent dealer changes made no difference -- they got a tip every time I got a quarter chip, so they were more than happy to oblige and look the other way. One other pit boss later questioned it, but said she really didn't care.

I kept 'em under a stack of similar-color $1 chips, and slid a couple into my shirt pocket whenever I had more than three in the stack. Took three hours to accumulate all 39 chips they had in the tray. Some of the most expensive chips I own,, but they sure are pretty.

 

[WedgeRock]

Lol. $9.23 per chip. But you were doing the Lord's work right there.

 

[BGinGA]

Ah, the things we do to fill a partial rack.

 

[upNdown]

I spent $360 (counting losses and tips) harvesting 39 x 25c chips playing Pai Gow at Southern Horseshoe.

Dealer tried to pay me in US coin quarters and I asked for the quarter chips - he said he couldn't let me have them. I pitched a fit, saying if I wanted to play with pocket change, I could stay at home and play with my kids - you have real 25c chips sitting right there, use 'em. Pit boss agreed, but said I couldn't keep them. However, once he sauntered off, the game was on.

Subsequent dealer changes made no difference -- they got a tip every time I got a quarter chip, so they were more than happy to oblige and look the other way. One other pit boss later questioned it, but said she really didn't care.

I kept 'em under a stack of similar-color $1 chips, and slid a couple into my shirt pocket whenever I had more than three in the stack. Took three hours to accumulate all 39 chips they had in the tray. Some of the most expensive chips I own,, but they sure are pretty.

Those are awesome. They look like clouds in the sky. I love them.

 

[pltrgyst]

A few years ago, my standard approach in Detroit casinos was to stand between two Pai Gow tables and tell all the players in a soft voice that I'd pay $1 for each quarter chip they received from the dealers. The players like making the profit, and the dealers and floor didn't seem to want to alienate the players by shooing me away...

Most of the tables had only 40-50 quarter chips, though, so it took a couple of days (part time) to accumulate two racks.

 

[justsomedude]

I spent $360 (counting losses and tips) harvesting 39 x 25c chips playing Pai Gow at Southern Horseshoe.

Those are awesome. They look like clouds in the sky. I love them.

Definitely one of the most beautiful fracs to grace God's green earth!!!!! Totally worth the cost of admission!!!!

 

[DJ Mack]

I've got it on good authority that one of the Detroit casinos started with something like 8,000 quarters and now they're down to just a couple hundred, hence the protectiveness and scarcity at the tables that use them.

I kept 'em under a stack of similar-color $1 chips, and slid a couple into my shirt pocket whenever I had more than three in the stack. Took three hours to accumulate all 39 chips they had in the tray. Some of the most expensive chips I own,,

Damn, that one missing chip doesn't kill you? lol Still cheaper than the going rate for a HS $1k chip.

 

[WedgeRock]

I've got it on good authority that one of the Detroit casinos started with something like 8,000 quarters and now they're down to just a couple hundred, hence the protectiveness and scarcity at the tables that use them.

That brings a tear of joy to my eye.

I've never seen anyone sell Greektown quarters, and MGM brought out a new rack when they moved buildings in 2007 (gawd -- has it been 10 years already?!) so that leads me to believe you are talking about Motor City, which, to my knowledge, has the same rack since they opened in 1999... I can see how chip counts would be down after almost 18 years of harvesting...

 

[BGinGA]

Damn, that one missing chip doesn't kill you? lol

Nah..... I needed them to fill the rack I'd already started:

Spoiler

.... but now it seems that I need another 16 to adequately finish the job (current tally = 184)

Here's a pic with some of their friends:

A huge shout-out to @courage for a large portion of the quarters. (y) :thumbsup:

 

[codeman00]

I guess it was inevitable since I've had my eye on these for awhile now. I have now acquired 2 racks of Motor City Quarters! I think they are going to be a temporary fix for my Grand Victoria secondary cash set that needs $0.25 chips....