Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #075 - 1981 - May [International Arcade Museum]
T"
II
■"
II
L.
THE
CASINO
GAMING
TOKENS
sight
in
traditionally
the
the
value).
gaming
The
Board,
It also was used freely and widely in
Treasury Department, issued regula
everyday commerce outside of the
tions regarding the use and issuance
casinos, and was as common as any
of
other coin or bill in circulation. Most
regulations include: (not exact wor
visitors took home a few silver dollars
dings)
themselves
on
casinos,
tables and in the dollar slot machines.
for
used
Nevada
NEVADA
denomination tokens (up to $100 face
The silver dollar was always a com
mon
OF
and
friends
for
scarce
and
rare
dating back as far as 1878? Nowhere!
So slowly the silver dollars filtered out
of Nevada. But there was no problem
at all, as the supply of silver dollars
was plentiful and the mints had
hundreds of thousands or millions of
still
in
storage,
even though
These
licensed
gaming
establish
ly similar to any U.S. or foreign
coin.
Most casinos did select to order their
4. Metal tokens of a denomination
gaming tokens from the Franklin Mint
less than $1.00 shall be made of a
Compare this 1966 Nevada Bank Club
color other than white metal.
token of Fallon, Nevada, made by the
token.
Mint,
to
the
5. The tokens physically shall be un
able to operate vending or other
experimental
machines that operate on
But things began changing rapidly
government
tokens.
Board.
1935.
The
gaming
U.S.
3. The tokens shall not be deceptive
Franklin
1964.
Control
the
2. Tokens for use in slot machines
must first be approved by the
production of silver dollars ceased in
in
Gaming
consulting
ments may issue the tokens.
dates. Where else could one find in
circulation as late as the 1976's coins
them
casino
1. Only
souvenirs and gifts. And coin collec
dollars
after
as
tors had a field day searching the
silver
Nevada
U. S.
coins, except slot machines.
reported
6. The
that silver would no longer be used in
licensed
gaming
ment may sell
establish
the tokens to its
minting dimes and quarters (half dol
Thus the silver dollars began to disap
patrons upon request and shall not
lars of the late 1960s did contain 40%
pear rapidly. In addition to being a
give them as change in any other
silver). And the value of silver slowly
was rising to where the silver content
in coins began to be worth more than
the coin's face value. People began to
hoard
and
even
melt silver coins.
more
impressive
coin
and
having
transaction.
more collector (or numismatic) value,
7. Licensed establishments shall not
a silver dollar actually contains more
accept for redemption tokens from
silver than 10 silver dimes, 4 silver
other establishments unless their
quarters, or 2 silver half dollars (770
patrons received them through slot
as opposed to 713 troy ounces pure
silver per $1,000 face value average
A'
A
machine play.
8.
circulated coins).
So silver dollars were grabbed up
WANTED
guarded those they had on hand or
could obtain from banks, as they were
necessary for operation of the dollar
slot machines. Gambling chips took
Seeking Quality Items
Depicting Gambling, Poker
and Playing Cards
• Catalogs
• Books
• Postcards • Poker Chips
Gambling Equipment
Especially Interested in
Buying or Trading
9.
obtained
machines.
Licensed
from
their
establishments
slot
shall
redeem promptly its own genuine
tokens from its patrons.
10. Signs shall be posted notifying
patrons that it is a violation of
federal
used in the slot machines.
outside
tokens o
the place of silver dol
c to m take these
.
m
lars.
Legally
tokens couldn't be
:
u
m
e the
o
s
r
u
f
exact
size
of
silver dollar, so
PLAYING d CARDS
ed ade-m most were made a a millimeter
a
smal
o
nl
arc
.
w
ler diameter. A flood of Nevada casi
o
w
D LEONARD
w
no gaming tokens resulted in the late
://w SCHNEIR ♦
p
t
t
h
1960's, with just about every casino in
Similar Collectors
Please Write
© The
International
Arcade
Museum
54 —
THE COIN
SLOT
may
ing tables but obviously couldn't be
Suddenly everyone turned to metal
V
establishments
the place of silver dollars on the gam
ANTIQUE
AMERICAN
184 6th Ave.
N.Y.C., N.Y. 10013
were
by everyone, and the casinos closely
GAMBLING
MEMORABILIA
Licensed
redeem each others tokens which
the state issuing their own dollar gam
law to use such tokens
the
premises
for
any
monetary purpose whatsoever.
11. The Board may withdraw its ap
proval of the use of tokens when
U.S.
coins of those denomina
tions are available in sufficient
quantities in Nevada without pay
ment of a premium.
12. Violations
of
the
regulations
could result in loss of approval to
ing tokens. Some casinos also issued
use tokens or suspension or rev
half
ocation of gaming license.
dollar
gaming
tokens
or
high
May 1981
http://www.arcade-museum.com/