Andy; Your friend is absolutedly correct. These CHIPCO NCV chips were distributed to poker players on the 1st opening day of the poker room at Resorts International in 1993. I still see occassional players that display these now-worn chip on the poker table as a "lucky piece" along side of their stacks of live chips. Value in my A.C. catalog is around $75 in like-new condition, but I've seen a few on ebay recently for around $40.