I agree. It looks like they used the original mold and modified it for the Vine chips.

Re-stamping would not be possible since the second design has more material than the original.

My theory is that re-cutting the old mold saved money, so they did it. Each die for the casting of the cores would cost a bit for the tool steel. If they were multi-core molds, it would have been over $500 for the blank steel.

As for Viejas brass cores. I don't know if the offer still stands, but for years we heard that the whole rack was for sale, but no bits a pieces. I can't remember what it would have cost, but it was in the thousands for someone to buy these. Pretty steep speculation for casino chips.