Reiterating what I have told chippers in the past......When Howard differentiated the many detailed differences of Harrah's brass, I checked with the original owners of Reliable Die Casting and concluded the following:
1. HARRAH'S made over 200,000 brass core chips over almost 20 years ( 1971 dollars etc. through their 1988 $2.50 green for South Shore with location ).
2. Dies wear early with brass and necessitate re-makes with every 10,000 impressions.
3. Over the years, a number of sub-contracted die makers were given castings to copy and designed their own minor differences thorugh their own artistic view of what the original looked like etc.
4. Over 300 different dies were used, and always taken by Harrah's for storage and eventual destruction. About 1991, they took 4 flatbed trucks, loaded with chips, dies, old memorabilia and had it all BURNED.!!
5. When Harrah's was sold to Promus, no cared about history etc. and I pleaded for years for them to create a museum etc. for historic necessity because Harrah's was a major mover in Nevada, and world gaming. Chased all the way to Memphis one year to try and create some interest. The only old timer that knew Bill Harrah is their CEO that may be in LV now...Phil Sartre....anyone want to continue chasing, get in touch with Phil?