RARE CASINO CHIPS SOLD AT AUCTION

Sands $5 Las Vegas Casino Chip, Ninth Issue, R-9, Circa Late 1950s. This chip issue is known as the "cowgirl leaning on the hourglass" or just the "hourglass" issue. This is one of the best-known vintage Vegas logos, used in advertising and promoting throughout the 1950s; a very appropriate emblem back when Vegas was a western-themed town. "A Place in the Sun" was the Sands' original logo but later they utilized a more Western motif. Oddly, for the tenth and eleventh chip issues, the Sands reverted to the sun advertising logo again.

This is the showpiece chip in this auction. Of the top four chip sales to break the $100,000 mark, two were Sands chips, with a $100 eighth issue bringing $145,000. Only three good $5 chips are known extant with one additional chip drilled. This example comes from an old time collection and has not previously been offered for public sale. We expect active bidding on this lot. Don't let this amazing opportunity pass you by.

The Sands opened December 15, 1952, with 200 rooms. The legendary Rat Pack first performed together on stage at the Sands in 1960 while they were filming the movie Ocean's Eleven. There is not likely a better known casino than the Sands; its name synonymous with early Las Vegas "cool" and "hip." The Copa Room at the Sands was the place to see and be seen for many years. In the mid-1960s, Howard Hughes purchased the Sands and added a 500 room tower. Sadly, the landmark casino hotel was not able to keep up with the newer mega-resorts being built on the Strip. It was imploded on November 26, 1996, and demolished to make room for a new resort, the Venetian.

Condition: Very Slight Used with no issues. Most of the crosshatching comes near the outer edge. Superb inlay colors and contrast

Sold for $26,180.



Golden Nugget $25 Las Vegas Casino Chip, Sixth Issue, R-10, Circa 1950s. The Golden Nugget issued some very classy chips. Here is an amazing color combination on an orange chip with six edge inserts and with the gold wreath design on the inlay. A true 50s chip with the "GN" Golden Nugget house mold. Not only striking in appearance, but R-10 in rarity! Three examples are known; two are locked in collections; this one is fresh from one major collection and destined to end up in another. Some astute collector will be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to acquire such a major rarity.

The Golden Nugget opened in 1946 in downtown Vegas making it one of the oldest casinos in the city. The world's largest gold nugget on display, the Hand of Faith, is on exhibit in the lobby. The Nugget has been featured in numerous films, television shows, and video games.

Condition: Slight Used. Light table play showing a tiny bit of edge use and some miniscule dings.

Sold for $10,710.

Flamingo $5 Las Vegas Casino Chip, First issue, R-6, 1946. A Bugsy Siegel issue, probably the most popular chip from this famous casino as depicted in the film Bugsy. This great-looking diecut brass inlay chip is one to be cherished as they are seldom offered for sale, especially in this top-grade condition. With the Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky mafia affiliation, and its long and fabled history on the strip, chips and memorabilia from the Flamingo are very popular and highly sought-after by collectors. Please note that most of these chips were drilled for key chains by the casino; only approximately twenty are known undrilled and these were found many years ago by an early chip seller. With its rarity, history, and beauty, this chip will certainly receive strong bidding. Don't miss out on a great opportunity.

The Pink Flamingo first opened on December 26, 1946, but, with the hotel still under construction, there weren't enough rooms for the out of state guests, causing the opening gala to flop. By January 16, 1947, they were closed. It reopened to stay in March 1947 as the Fabulous Flamingo with the hotel complete and is still going strong today, the oldest resort on the strip. Though thought by many people to be the first on the strip, the Flamingo was really the third to open, following the El Rancho Vegas and the Last Frontier. The popular films Ocean's Eleven and Viva Las Vegas were both filmed there.

Sold for $3,200.

Condition: About New. In excellent condition for a sixty-four year old clay composition chip. Some expected tarnish to the brass with one spot on the 50. Much nicer than most examples.

For more information about casino chips, please read The Basics Of Casino Chip Collecting.



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