with more knowledge would answer first. I believe that they were actually redeemable/playable chips however most were given out as calling cards or gifts. The vast majority of the ones shown up on the market recently must have come from the remaining inventory which made the prices on some of these drop substantially.

I have no idea how many were produced, but I would imagine a few hundred of each and I would also imagine they were made in equal quantities. What makes some much tougher than others depends on which ones were in the find recently uncovered. In that find there were over 100 of some chips and as little as 2-3 of others. Some were not uncovered in the find at all.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge can fill us in on the details.

Enjoy and happy chipping,
Doug