The Great Sahara Plaque Registry Project
This on-going project is an effort to assist collectors of the Del Webb's Sahara Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, baccarat gaming plaques in their efforts to obtain matched serial numbered sets of these striking plaques. Sahara baccarat gaming plaques were manufactured by the Bourgogne et Grasset (France) and delivered to the Sahara in 1974, in the quantities noted within parenthesis at the top of each column, below.
These gaming plaques were rather unique to American gaming, although they were and are the norm in Europe. Using these plaques was an attempt to glamorize baccarat at the Sahara, but it failed and they were then pulled from use. At a later date (unknown for now) the Shara Hotel and Casino (or perhaps Del Webb Corporation) began giving out sets of plaques to various employees. It is unknown if the sets were matched, or if they included all five denominations ($20, $50, $100, $500 and $1,000). Over time some framed sets of four have entered the casino gaming collectibles marketplace, but it is yet to be determined if the casino created these sets (minus the $1,000 plaque) or if they were created for the collector market.
Six - seven years ago several chip dealers (individuals that sell casino chips to the collector community) were approached by an individual claiming to be a former Del Webb executive, wanting to sell a very large cache of the Sahara plaques, as well as many of the Sahara, Bud Jones manufactured Coin-in-Center (CIC) chips in the denominations of $1, $5, $25, $100 (2 types) and the $500. Also included in the "truckload" of chips were many High Sierra (another Del Webb property) chips.
While the seller wanted $30,000, dealer offers for the chips and plaques started off at $6,000, went to $12,000 and ended up at about $16,000. One of the non-successful dealers counted exactly 52 of the $1,000 Sahara plaques. Since then many of these chips and plaques were sold by the dealer to the chip collecting community and eventually the dealer sold out his entire inventory to another dealer, who in turn sold his inventory to another dealer. However, this later sale did not happen before the majority of the plaque inventory was sold off separately to yet another dealer. That sell off was purported to be for around $40,000 and it is not clear if it included other inventory, or just plaques. Presently, the remaining supply is with the two separate dealers, one of whom who has been selling his inventory of chips over the Internet (eBay) and at chip shows, and he is now down to about 30 plaques remaining. All are low denomination plaques and the dealer will be furnishing the serial numbers for this Project. The other, much larger supply of plaques, are still being researched.
All told, the Sahara plaques have seen a lot of fractionalization over the years and this Registry Project is an attempt to assemble matched serial numbered sets. Since only 200 of the $1,000 plaques were made it stands to reason that only 200 complete, matched serial number sets can be established, but thus far, there is only one publicly known matched set of all five plaques. Interestingly enough, that set is the premiere set, being serial number 0001. It resides on public display at the Casino Legends Hall of Fame Museum at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada and is owned by Mr. Steven Cutler, Museum Curator and well known Nevada/Las Vegas gaming memorabilia collector.
If you have a Sahara plaque (or plaques) you are encouraged to have their serial numbers listed here with the Registry so that you or others may be able to create matched serial numbers sets, partial sets and in some instances, un-matched sets but with all five plaques through trading and/or purchase arrangements.
In the event that you are the owner of such plaques, but do not wish to be asked about trade offers, then I still encourage you to submit your serial numbers and request non-publication of your name. I will list the serial number(s) but will code the owner as "withheld". Where the Registered owner's name appears italicized, it means that those plaques are For Sale.
Advisement of serial numbers may be made via email (jim@gamingore.com) or telephonically (520) 529-3245 or via snail-mail at:
The Great Sahara Plaque Registry Project
c/o Jim Follis
5169 N. Windriver Pl.
Tucson, AZ 85750
Thank you and please send in your numbers.
Jim Follis
Life Member 3872-53
Casino Chip & Gaming Token Collectors Club, Inc
| |
$20 |
$50 |
$100 |
$500 |
$1,000 |
|
|
$20 |
$100 |
|
|
$20 |
|
|
$20 |
| 1020 |
(2,000 made/623 here) |
(500 made/63 here]) |
(1,000 made/249 here) |
(500 made/61 here) |
(200 made/24 here) |
|
|
(2,000 made) |
(1,000 made) |
|
|
(2,000 made) |
|
|
(2,000 made) |
| 0001 |
Cutler, Steve |
Cutler, Steve |
Cutler, Steve |
Cutler, Steve |
Cutler, Steve |
|
0501 |
|
|
|
1001 |
|
|
1501 |
|
| 0002 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
|
|
0502 |
|
|
|
1002 |
Clem, Norman |
|
1502 |
|
| 0003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0503 |
Hermans, Bob |
|
|
1003 |
Clem, Norman |
|
1503 |
Cutler, Steve |
| 0004 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
Cilento, Alex |
|
|
0504 |
|
|
|
1004 |
Sanders, Pete |
|
1504 |
|
| 0005 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
|
|
0505 |
|
|
|
1005 |
|
|
1505 |
|
| 0006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0506 |
Mendenhall, Walt |
|
|
1006 |
|
|
1506 |
|
| 0007 |
|
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0507 |
|
|
|
1007 |
Clem, Norman |
|
1507 |
|
| 0008 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
Brown, Ted |
|
|
|
0508 |
|
|
|
1008 |
|
|
1508 |
|
| 0009 |
Follis, Jim |
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0509 |
Mendenhall, Walt |
|
|
1009 |
|
|
1509 |
|
| 0010 |
Sarra, Jim |
|
|
|
|
|
0510 |
|
|
|
1010 |
|
|
1510 |
|
| 0011 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
Lueders, Don |
|
0511 |
Clem, Norman |
|
|
1011 |
|
|
1511 |
Gaming Archaeology |
| 0012 |
Brown, Ted |
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
Brown, Ted |
|
0512 |
|
|
|
1012 |
|
|
1512 |
|
| 0013 |
|
|
|
|
Lawyer, Joe |
|
0513 |
|
|
|
1013 |
|
|
1513 |
Hartman, Scott |
| 0014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0514 |
|
|
|
1014 |
|
|
1514 |
Gaming Archaeology |
| 0015 |
|
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0515 |
|
|
|
1015 |
|
|
1515 |
Novelli, Michael |
| 0016 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
|
|
0516 |
Pilzer, Ron |
Jung, Mel |
|
1016 |
Lueders, Don |
|
1516 |
|
| 0017 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
|
|
0517 |
|
|
|
1017 |
|
|
1517 |
Gaming Archaeology |
| 0018 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
Jung, Mel |
|
0518 |
|
|
|
1018 |
|
|
1518 |
|
| 0019 |
Sloan, Bernie |
|
|
|
|
|
0519 |
|
Clem, Norman |
|
1019 |
|
|
1519 |
|
| 0020 |
|
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0520 |
Clem, Norman |
|
|
1020 |
|
|
1520 |
|
| 0021 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
Lawyer, Joe |
|
|
0521 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
Lueders, Don |
|
1021 |
Schwartz, John |
|
1521 |
|
| 0022 |
|
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0522 |
|
|
|
1022 |
|
|
1522 |
|
| 0023 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
Lewis, Dan |
|
|
0523 |
Porro, Pete |
|
|
1023 |
|
|
1523 |
|
| 0024 |
|
|
Maddox, Bary |
Anderson, Don |
|
|
0524 |
|
|
|
1024 |
|
|
1524 |
|
| 0025 |
|
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
Hartman, Scott |
|
|
0525 |
Mendenhall, Walt |
|
|
1025 |
|
|
1525 |
Clem, Norman |
| 0026 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
Clewell, Ron |
|
0526 |
|
|
|
1026 |
|
|
1526 |
|
| 0027 |
Hartman, Scott |
Mancini, Al |
|
|
|
|
0527 |
|
|
|
1027 |
|
|
1527 |
|
| 0028 |
|
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0528 |
|
|
|
1028 |
|
|
1528 |
Gaming Archaeology |
| 0029 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0529 |
Clem, Norman |
|
|
1029 |
|
|
1529 |
|
| 0030 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
|
|
0530 |
Mendenhall, Walt |
|
|
1030 |
|
|
1530 |
Clem, Norman |
| 0031 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0531 |
Bufton, Mark |
|
|
1031 |
|
|
1531 |
Zabel, Bjoern |
| 0032 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
|
|
0532 |
|
|
|
1032 |
Novelli, Michael |
|
1532 |
Novelli, Michael |
| 0033 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
|
|
0533 |
|
|
|
1033 |
|
|
1533 |
|
| 0034 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0534 |
|
|
|
1034 |
|
|
1534 |
Gaming Archaeology |
| 0035 |
Hanson, Michael |
|
|
|
|
|
0535 |
Gordon, Duncan |
|
|
1035 |
|
|
1535 |
|
| 0036 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0536 |
Clem, Norman |
|
|
1036 |
|
|
1536 |
|
| 0037 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0537 |
Davis, Theran |
|
|
1037 |
|
|
1537 |
|
| 0038 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
Lighterman, Mark |
|
0538 |
|
Campiglia, James |
|
1038 |
|
|
1538 |
|
| 0039 |
|
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0539 |
|
|
|
1039 |
Davis, Theran |
|
1539 |
|
| 0040 |
|
Stormberg, Greg |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0540 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
1040 |
|
|
1540 |
|
| 0041 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0541 |
|
|
|
1041 |
|
|
1541 |
|
| 0042 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0542 |
|
Clem, Norman |
|
1042 |
|
|
1542 |
|
| 0043 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
|
|
0543 |
|
|
|
1043 |
Gaito, Jim |
|
1543 |
|
| 0044 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
|
|
0544 |
|
|
|
1044 |
|
|
1544 |
|
| 0045 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
|
|
0545 |
Shore, Josh |
|
|
1045 |
|
|
1545 |
Gaming Archaeology |
| 0046 |
|
|
Myers, Allan |
Myers, Allan |
|
|
0546 |
|
|
|
1046 |
|
|
1546 |
|
| 0047 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0547 |
Lueders, Don |
|
|
1047 |
|
|
1547 |
|
| 0048 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0548 |
Gaming Archaeology |
|
|
1048 |
|
|
1548 |
Shore, Josh |
| 0049 |
|
|
|
Brown, Ted |
Halpern, Morey |
|
0549 |
|
|
|
1049 |
|
|
1549 |
|
| 0050 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0550 |
Clem, Norman |
|
|
1050 |
|
|
1550 |
|
| 0051 |
|
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0551 |
Gaming Archaeology |
|
|
1051 |
|
|
1551 |
|
| 0052 |
|
|
|
|
Harouff, Skip |
|
0552 |
|
|
|
1052 |
|
|
1552 |
|
| 0053 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0553 |
|
|
|
1053 |
|
|
1553 |
|
| 0054 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0554 |
|
|
|
1054 |
|
|
1554 |
|
| 0055 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0555 |
|
|
|
1055 |
|
|
1555 |
Clem, Norman |
| 0056 |
Hanson, Michael |
|
|
Lighterman, Mark |
|
|
0556 |
|
Panzica, John |
|
1056 |
|
|
1556 |
|
| 0057 |
Hanson, Michael |
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0557 |
Davis, Theran |
|
|
1057 |
|
|
1557 |
|
| 0058 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
|
|
0558 |
|
|
|
1058 |
|
|
1558 |
|
| 0059 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0559 |
Follis, James |
|
|
1059 |
|
|
1559 |
|
| 0060 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
|
|
0560 |
|
|
|
1060 |
|
|
1560 |
|
| 0061 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
|
|
0561 |
Gaming Archaeology |
|
|
1061 |
|
|
1561 |
|
| 0062 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
|
|
0562 |
|
|
|
1062 |
Black, Archie |
|
1562 |
Maddox, Bary |
| 0063 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0563 |
|
Mendenhall, Walt |
|
1063 |
|
|
1563 |
|
| 0064 |
|
|
|
|
Pardue, Robert |
|
0564 |
Maddox, Bary |
|
|
1064 |
|
|
1564 |
|
| 0065 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0565 |
|
|
|
1065 |
|
|
1565 |
|
| 0066 |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
|
|
0566 |
|
|
|
1066 |
|
|
1566 |
|
| 0067 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0567 |
|
Mancini, Al |
|
1067 |
|
|
1567 |
|
| 0068 |
Clewell, Ron |
|
|
|
Tomarchio, Chuck |
|
0568 |
|
|
|
1068 |
|
|
1568 |
|
| 0069 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0569 |
Mendenhall, Walt |
Mendenhall, Walt |
|
1069 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
1569 |
|
| 0070 |
|
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0570 |
|
Davis, Theran |
|
1070 |
Clem, Norman |
|
1570 |
|
| 0071 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
|
0571 |
Belligan, James |
|
|
1071 |
|
|
1571 |
|
| 0072 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0572 |
|
|
|
1072 |
|
|
1572 |
|
| 0073 |
|
|
Halpern, Morey |
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
0573 |
|
Belligan, James |
|
1073 |
|
|
1573 |
|
| 0074 |
|
|
Lawyer, Joe |
|
|
|
0574 |
|
|
|
1074 |
|
|
1574 |
|
| 0075 |
|
|
|
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
0575 |
|
Gaming Archaeology |
|
1075 |
|
|
1575 |
|
| 0076 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0576 |
|
Mendenhall, Walt |
|
1076 |
Shore, Josh |
|
1576 |
|
| 0077 |
Mendenhall, Walt |
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0577 |
|
|
|
1077 |
|
|
1577 |
|
| 0078 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0578 |
|
|
|
1078 |
Gaming Archaeology |
|
1578 |
|
| 0079 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0579 |
|
|
|
1079 |
|
|
1579 |
Gaming Archaeology |
| 0080 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0580 |
|
|
|
1080 |
|
|
1580 |
Clem, Norman |
| 0081 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0581 |
Clem, Norman |
|
|
1081 |
|
|
1581 |
|
| 0082 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0582 |
|
|
|
1082 |
|
|
1582 |
|
| 0083 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
|
|
0583 |
|
|
|
1083 |
|
|
1583 |
|
| 0084 |
|
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0584 |
|
|
|
1084 |
|
|
1584 |
Harouff, Skip |
| 0085 |
|
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0585 |
|
|
|
1085 |
|
|
1585 |
|
| 0086 |
|
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0586 |
Panzica, John |
Davis, Theran |
|
1086 |
|
|
1586 |
|
| 0087 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0587 |
|
|
|
1087 |
|
|
1587 |
|
| 0088 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
Bufton, Mark |
|
|
|
|
0588 |
|
|
|
1088 |
|
|
1588 |
|
| 0089 |
|
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0589 |
|
|
|
1089 |
|
|
1589 |
|
| 0090 |
|
|
|
|
Jung, Mel |
|
0590 |
|
|
|
1090 |
|
|
1590 |
|
| 0091 |
|
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0591 |
Clem, Norman |
Gaming Archaeology |
|
1091 |
Gaming Archaeology |
|
1591 |
|
| 0092 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0592 |
|
Gaming Archaeology |
|
1092 |
|
|
1592 |
|
| 0093 |
|
|
Halpern, Morey |
|
|
|
0593 |
|
|
|
1093 |
Freitag, Mark |
|
1593 |
Hector, Rick |
| 0094 |
Mendenhall, Walt |
|
|
|
|
|
0594 |
Mendenhall, Walt |
|
|
1094 |
|
|
1594 |
Clem, Norman |
| 0095 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
|
|
0595 |
Mendenhall, Walt |
|
|
1095 |
|
|
1595 |
|
| 0096 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
|
|
0596 |
|
|
|
1096 |
|
|
1596 |
|
| 0097 |
|
Cutler, Steve |
|
|
|
|
0597 |
|
|
|
1097 |
Hiltselberger, Tom |
|
1597 |
|
| 0098 |
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
Poluyanskis, Al |
|
|
|
0598 |
|