Though I don't know how many Silver Strike
collectors there are around the world, I do know
that this dealer does have a huge business, is
well-respected by coin merchants who buy from him
and lists his material on eBay at very reasonable
prices...which leads me to believe volume may have
something to do with it. I think if anyone were to
study the number of casino token collectors there
are around the world, it will probably be a lot
higher than expected. In France alone, where coin
collectors normally have no interest in casino
chips, there is a very big interest in metal
casino tokens. Historically, casino tokens in
France are
much smaller than we have here in the USA, usually
about 33mm in size, and also made of a few different
metals as well, so I can at least imagine how these
token collectors would be interested in these
strikingly-beautiful Silver Strikes. Again, I
haven't the slightest idea as to how many Silver
Strike collectors there are (which are probably
nowhere near the 15,000 quoted), but I bet there are
a lot more token collectors around
the world who are now latching on to the SS's. I
know
for a fact who has been exporting slot tokens to
European collectors up to his death several years
ago, and I know that Victor GADOURY was getting top
dollar for common Nevada slot tokens in his
catalogues of years past. I've never met Mr. Katz
(I do believe he's a club member...or at least was),
nor have I ever talked with him, but to me it looks
like he's got his act together, anyway. I also know
that I had a little more time to walk the bourse
this year at F.U.N. and did notice a lot more Silver
Strikes available from some coin dealers...a lot
more than usual.
JB