Archie

This was partly my point (maybe not very well made though )

In my case, the chip I won at the casino, and then kept, is unoubtedly a generic chip but I keep it with my collection of chips from that casino because that is where I got it from and, for me, that collection is of chips used in a casino. But there is no way I could 'prove' that it came from there other than my word. It has no value so probably not an issue for anyone, but it fits in my collection as your key may fit in yours depending on your collecting preferences.

My original question though was when does attribution become proof, and from the debates in this thread it does seem to point to everyone having to make their own minds up as an overall agreement appears unlikely. In the case of chips, does it have to be manufactrers records, or maybe 'attribution' from more respected members of the hobby - yourself for example for AC chips, and a range of people that many of us would agree on for Nevada chips, for that attribution to be accepted as proof? My view is that if we only went for proof in the form of manufacturer records, some guides would be a lot shorter than they are now, so I am happy to go with attributions although it would be good to be informed of that point so that all collectors can make their informed choices.

Jason