The photograph at the left pictures some North American playing cards and on the right side of the photo are a number of standard betting "chips".
A number of such chips are included in the collection. These contemporary chips which are made of plastic are well known to card players - since such chips are used through out the world. Players (or a gambling casino which uses such chips) decide the value of each chip based upon its color or design. Some casinos have special chips with the name of the casino imprinted on the chip face.
However, in the past this was not the case. In times gone by, wealthy persons purchased their own individualized sets of custom or handmade betting chips which were often crafted from ivory or mother-of-pearl.
On the right is a photograph of handmade chips donated to the collection in 1983.
They are handmade from mother-of-pearl, somewhere in the orient during the 19th century. The different shapes were used to represent different size bets.
In the photograph is a chip carved as circle, one carved as a rectangle, one carved as an oval, and one carved in the shape of a fish. Although the photograph does not show it, the carvings were often intricate etchings. For example, the "fish" has excised "scales" carved into it. Some times the owner's name was carved into each chip.
Chips of this type were quite common, and although no longer used by card players, they are often found today on sale in antique shops.
NOTE: This page was originally created and posted on the Web on April 2, 1998. Subsequently it has been modified and periodically updated. Last update: June 8, 2010