The Platinum Collection (2 Viewers)

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

This chip starts a new series of Casino Chips and tokens from the Platinum Collection.

$1000 Harold’s Club Reno, Nevada (1935-1970)

In 2005 collectors had a unique opportunity to bid (or watch others bid) on one of America’s greatest gaming collections that com- bines gaming check rarities and gaming tokens. The Platinum collection has two distinct characteristics that set it apart from other collections. As a collection of gaming tokens, it is the definitive collection that has almost every known specimen issued by Nevada casinos. As a collection of gaming checks, it features some of the great rarities from Reno, Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas. As a combined collection, it has the distinction of being a collection that cannot be reproduced and is the single finest collection of Nevada chips and tokens in the world. James Campiglia, a consultant to the collection, has represented many of the collection pieces as being very desirable and extremely rare. Gaming Archaeology’s considers the gaming tokens to be abundant in rarities in super condition. The collection is named for the unique platinum dollar gaming token that the Franklin Mint made for William Harrah in 1965 and is considered to be the first Nevada gaming token.
Possibly one of Reno’s most world famous casinos. A high denomination check featuring a portrait of its founder Harold Smith in his cowboy hat. The club actively promoted their business around the world with signs that noted the distance to Harolds Club. After years of family ownership, the Smith family sold the casino to Howard Hughes in 1970.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection – Part 2
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$10,000 Little Ceasars Las Vegas strip, Nevada (1970-1994)

Despite its small size, Little Caesars had one of the largest trades in sports betting in Las Vegas. High value sports bets were encouraged, thus the large denominations, especially for a small casino.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Token from the Platinum Collection – Part 3
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

.50 1965 (O) Brass Token, Diamond Jim's Nevada Club Las Vegas Nevada (1962-1969)

One of two known examples of this rare issue struck only as samples in brass.

 

[gmunny]

I was a new collector when the Platinum Collection came out. From what I remember it was posted to eBay with a $1 million minimum bid and it sold. I also have a CD that was made as part of the marketing for the auction that had images of entire collection (chips and tokens). Some amazing chips in that collection for sure.

If you are looking for more information on the Collection, Howard (or Howdy as many called him) Hertz wrote an club magazine article back in 05 which you can read back issues on the CCA website.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection Part 4
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

This is part four of a new series of Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection

$2.50 Primadonna Club Reno, Nevada (1955-1974)

Ernie Primm’s club featured larger than life dancing girl statues over its entrance on Virginia Street. This style of gaming check features a “pie” color design. Ernie Primm was an experienced gambler from the card rooms of Gardena, California who moved to Nevada.

 

[Okku]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection Part 4
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

This is part four of a new series of Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection

$2.50 Primadonna Club Reno, Nevada (1955-1974)

Ernie Primm’s club featured larger than life dancing girl statues over its entrance on Virginia Street. This style of gaming check features a “pie” color design. Ernie Primm was an experienced gambler from the card rooms of Gardena, California who moved to Nevada.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 5
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

This is part five of a new series of Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection

$100 The Sands
Las Vegas strip, Nevada (1952-1967)
This is considered to be the 4th gaming check issue of the casino. The large sunburst and the stylized logo make it both a rarity and classic strip check. The Sands made history with entertainers like Frank Sinatra and the “rat pack”.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 6
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

This is part six of a new series of Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection
$5 Las Vegas Club

Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada (1951-1961)
The famous Las Vegas gaming check featured the one armed bandit slot machines that the Las Vegas club was famous for. These slot machines were housed in hand carved wooden statues of outlaws made by Frank Polk.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 7
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

This is part seven of a new series of Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection
$1 Fremont Hotel

Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada (1956-1985)
This classic “arrow-dice” mold gaming check is one of the more colorful issued by the hotel. Its attractive colors and early issue make it one of the more desirable checks for collectors.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 8
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

This is part eight of a new series of Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection
$25 Cal-Neva (Lodge)

Crystal Bay, Lake Tahoe Nevada (1937)
These checks were featured at the famous Lake Tahoe lodge after a disastrous fire in May of 1937 result- ed in a rebuilding of the property for an opening on July 4th!! Owners, Graham and McKay, exercised their considerable power in Reno to have the Lodge completed on time. The construction is still considered as some of the most beautiful at the Lake with the California/Nevada state line running through the Indian Room and the swimming pool.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

The Platinum Collection
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$500 Circus-Circus Reno, Nevada (1978-)

After a successful casino venture in Las Vegas, the owners of Circus - Circus bought a department store in Reno and converted it into a casino. Nevada’s gaming control board certified that only two examples were not accounted for when they destroyed these high value gaming checks.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 10
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

This is part eight of a new series of Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection

$100 CLN (Cal-Neva Lodge) (1948-1955)

One of the most intriguing lettering styles on a Nevada gaming check. One of the mysteries of this check is why the full name of the casino was not used. It is possible that this high denomination was used for special play or for a special game.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 12
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$100 Flamingo
Las Vegas strip, Nevada (1971-1990)

This issue of the Flamingo was made after the property was purchased by the Hilton Hotels. The gaming check is an example of a “house” mold. In the 1970’s, a number of manufacturers offered customers the advantage of having a house mold rather than the manufacturers mold design. This additional security devise is now used by most of the larger casino in the world. This Flamingo issue, although later in the history of the casino still merits considerable attention from collectors.

 

[Paul Schaffer]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 13
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

Roulette Cal-Neva (Lodge) Crystal Bay, Lake Tahoe Nevada (1937)

One of the beautiful pine cone motif roulette chips used on the casinos roulette tables. These chips were issued following the May 1937 fire that destroyed the original casino.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 14
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$20 United Club Reno Reno, Nevada (1962-1964)

A small club located in Douglas Alley, an area where Reno’s gaming started in the late 1920’s. This club was owned by Gene and Tom Wong. They featured slots, 21 and a poker game. The Club closed in October of 1964.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 15
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$5 Hacienda
Las Vegas strip, Nevada (1956-1972)

From the first ownership of the casino, this check is one of the more popular checks with collectors with possibly only two know examples.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 16
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$100 RR (Reno Ramada) Reno, Nevada (1980-1989)

A small casino operation to the northeast of the downtown center. The casino survived for 9 years but could not compete against the solid downtown clubs. Their brass core checks were an innovation in gaming checks. Dealers favored the weight but sometimes complained that the edges were too sharp.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection17
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$25 Harrah’s Club Reno and Lake Tahoe (1956)

Bill Harrah purchased George Cannon’s Gateway Club on the west side of highway 50 in 1955. At the time Harrah’s Club had a logo featuring a sultan with his harem. This logo was a part of Harrah’s famous campaign slogan “I hit the jackpot at Harrah’s”. A local rumor has it that someone once commented that the chip was Bill Harrah and his wives - a quip that resulted in the demise of the logo.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection18
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$1 Christmas Tree

Mount Rose Highway S. of Reno (1954-1959)
This small steakhouse featured mahogany broiled steaks and a view over Reno from the side of a mountain. Its “casino” usually had only a couple of table games. During the ownership of the restaurant by Guy and Gloria Michaels, Gloria’s exotic lion pets were frequently seen.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection19
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$5 Dopey Norman

Stateline, Lake Tahoe Nevada (circa 1953)
Raymond N Reinberg operated a card game in Vallejo before moving to Lake Tahoe and operating a small club squeezed between the California state line and George Cannon’s Gateway Club. Raymond’s nickname “Dopey” was given by George Cannon and other friends for his more than frequent drinking.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection20
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$5 The Town House
Reno, Nevada - (Circa 1950’s)

Featuring “The Riding Lesson” by Lou Hymer - a local illustrator’s famous characterization of the dude ranch cowboy and two divorcees getting a riding lesson in a bar. The small club operated from 1932 to 1955. Its cozy atmosphere was favored by locals.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection21
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

Tahoe Village
Stateline, Lake Tahoe Nevada (1949-1951)

This metal wafer roulette chip is one of a series featuring the recreational assets of Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Village featured a full line of gaming. Located about one mile north of the state line, the property over- looked a meadow that went down to the lake.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 22
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$100 Bank Club Reno
Reno, Nevada - (Circa 1940’s)

Reno’s most famous club of the 1930’s and 1940’s operated by Bill Graham and James McKay. Originally opened in the basement of the building prior to the legalization of gaming in 1931, the Bank Club moved up to the street level in April of 1931 with a “Grand Opening” that celebrated the legalization of gaming and its acceptance by Reno’s citizens.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 23
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$1000 Desert Inn
Las Vegas strip, Nevada (1988-2003)

After the days of Wilbur Clark, Howard Hughes and others, the DI and its golf course maintained a solid position on the strip. But all good things in Las Vegas have to make way for better things and today the once proud property of the DI houses the newest (for the moment) creation of the city in the form of the Wynn Hotel.

 

[Okku]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 23
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

$1000 Desert Inn
Las Vegas strip, Nevada (1988-2003)

After the days of Wilbur Clark, Howard Hughes and others, the DI and its golf course maintained a solid position on the strip. But all good things in Las Vegas have to make way for better things and today the once proud property of the DI houses the newest (for the moment) creation of the city in the form of the Wynn Hotel.

One of my favorites!

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 24
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson

50¢ Zimba’s
Reno, Nevada (1969-1972)

A small club located in Reno’s Commercial Row area. One of the more colorful checks issued in Nevada in a low denomination.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 25
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson
$5 China Mint
Reno, Nevada (1960-1963)
One of Reno’s Asian clubs located on Lake Street between 1960 and 1963. The owners, Frank Chung, Henry Leong, Andrew Young and William Baily Sr. operated slots and table games. In 1963 they moved their license to the Happy Budda Club.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 26
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson
$5 Barney’s Casino
Stateline, Lake Tahoe Nevada (1967-1983)
Started by Barney O’Malia in 1967, this small club had been the Circus Room. When Harrah’s expanded Bill’s Casino, they purchased Barney’s and incorporated it into the expansion. Barney O’Malia’s gaming career included gambling in Hawthorne and Fallon, Nevada.

 

[CCA_SM_Director]

Casino Chips from the Platinum Collection 27
By Howard Herz and Allan Anderson
10¢ Palace Club
Reno, Nevada (1934-1979)
One of Reno’s oldest clubs that was operating before the legalization of gaming in 1931. The club was located near the train station and could trace its roots to the days before gaming was prohibited in 1910.

 

[djsLV]

Is there anyway to see the entire list of what was in this collection somewhere online?