Marc,
I know several collectors who not only buy $100 chips but also $500 and $1000 chips directly off a craps or blackjack table for their own collections. You should see the pit boss' reaction when someone walks up to a vacant craps table and asks for 2 $500 and 2 $1000 chips (one for himself and one for a fellow collector) puts them in his pocket and walks away. And these are regular rack chips not L.E.s Are these collectors crazy? I don't think so, when you see the prices some collectors offer for obsolete $100 chips. One collector ran an ad in the club magazine a couple of years ago offering $10.000 for a Resorts $100 Baccarat chip. High denomination chips cost a lot but their future value can be considerable. Also the "Bugsy" $100 wewnt for over $5000 in a recent auction.
As for myself I collect those $2 and $3 non denominational roulette chips but guess what, some roulettes now sell for over $1000. The bottom line is collect what you like and what you can afford and enjoy the hobby for the enjoyment it brings you. That's what I do.
Jerry Birl
Mr. Roulette