Immy's Casino Royale

[Immy]

Sleepy's dime thread was the inspiration for this (with apologies to the James Bond franchise). Now that I'm visiting the El Cortez more often than usual (aka one of the last coin-op casinos in Vegas) it's time to create a thread to post ongoing results. I can't say it'll be as frequently updated as Sleepy's, but count on at least one or two excursions a month with hopefully interesting finds. Only wish I had the stamina and eyesight of my younger years.

In addition, with about 35 years of casino searching in the books, I'll augment my posts with stats and trivia from past casino visits.


Yesterday was a pretty great day amongst the nickels. These two beauties were in my bucket from around $100 searched. And after some Nik-A-Date treatment the year 1916 emerged. 2nd buffalo this year!


I always try to situate myself near the self-serve coin counters since the reject chutes are good sources of stuff. Yesterday was no exception. A guy came in with a large bag of non-casino coins. We got chatting and he said he got them from a storage unit he bought. Told him I'd take any rejects he didn't want and he gave me the 1981 Taiwan 10 dollars pictured above. Checking another machine also got me the 1950 Hong Kong 10 cent-er, my oldest foreign coin this year. Great stuff!

Fun Stats: Last 1916 buffalo I found was on 4/27/04. And, amazingly, the last 45-S war nickel I found on...9/3/11, exactly eight years ago to the day!

This Week in Casino Searching History: In 1999, I completed a roll of 1954-D nickels.

 

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[A2coins]

Great post I used to live I. The poker rooms in Laughlin. When the used real coinage

 

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[Immy]

Really enjoying this thread Immy. I hope the roadwork gets better soon so this thread can have weekly updates. Sort of like a "week in review".

Great post I used to live I. The poker rooms in Laughlin. When the used real coinage

Thx!

If I lived in my old neighborhood (aka ten minutes away) that would be a distinct possibility. It's now a half hour drive each way, and that's if the traffic is with me. Wish I could swing more visits. And what I thought was construction was actually prep for a huge Downtown festival. Everything seemed to be back to normal on Tues.

Good news is I'm seriously thinking of a 2-3 day Cortez staycation early next month. Room rates are crazy cheap and I could bring up buckets of coins to the room to examine more closely. Is this taking CRHing to the absurd? The more I think about it, the more I'm loving the idea.

 

[gordon and tanner]

Thx!


Is this taking CRHing to the absurd? The more I think about it, the more I'm loving the idea.

Cheaper than a golf weekend. If you have the time and find it enjoyable. GO FOR IT!

Keep on Searching
Dad and Tanner

 

[A2coins]

Thx!

If I lived in my old neighborhood (aka ten minutes away) that would be a distinct possibility. It's now a half hour drive each way, and that's if the traffic is with me. Wish I could swing more visits. And what I thought was construction was actually prep for a huge Downtown festival. Everything seemed to be back to normal on Tues.

Good news is I'm seriously thinking of a 2-3 day Cortez staycation early next month. Room rates are crazy cheap and I could bring up buckets of coins to the room to examine more closely. Is this taking CRHing to the absurd? The more I think about it, the more I'm loving the idea.

I remember rooms were very cheap and on weekends I would get a room comped plus meals all the time Prime rib room was awesome I would go there with my tie die led zepplin shirt and jeans lol I knew the cook and his wife, I would play all month then get in the tournaments at the end of the month, made a small fortune on all the vacationers. Then when they had events always play the machines near the Hotel check in and entrances they want people to see winners when they are first coming in lots of tricks, I learned from Pat Laughlin Toms brother. Anyway Good luck on your coin hunt you might be surprised if you talk to the right person, they might let you look through some of the coin bins at the end of the night when they collect. Tommy

 

[Immy]

You can thank CardsNCoins for this impromptu Cortez excursion. Hadn't planned on going till later this month but then I thought "Why not?" and braved the cross-town traffic. Turned out to be a good idea with buffalo #6 for the year dropping out of a poker machine. It's the most common - 1936-P - but I ain't complainin'. The coin counter reject slot also gave up another carwash token, same type as the previous skunk visit. The pair make good companions and I'd like to think the antique auto pictured might have been on the road around the time this buffie was circulating.

I will seriously be unable to go again since my next few Tuesdays are occupied. The Cortez staycation looks close to becoming a reality and will probably be the next time I hit the slots. Hopefully a couple of days of concentrated searching will produce some cool stuff.


Fun Stats: This is my 7th 1936 found in the wild (most in the series) and first since 11/10/09.

This Week in Casino Searching History: In 2006, 100 years after its release, I found my third ever V nickel (1906).

 

[CardsNCoins]

You can thank CardsNCoins for this impromptu Cortez excursion.........

Cant wait for the stay-cation results.

 

[Immy]

The staycation is set! Went to the Cortez today to finalize my two-day visit next month, so why not search the slots a little? Good idea! Here's what I came up with:

Wartime Nickels

1942-P (12/18/18)

1942-S (11/13/10)

1943-P (10/26/19)

1943-D (9/15/09)

1943-S (8/27/19)

1944-P (9/1/13)

1944-D (9/24/19)

1944-S (8/18/11)

1945-P (6/6/18)

1945-D (8/12/11)

1945-S (9/3/19)

A battered but still readable 1943-P wartime, fourth silver nickel this year. Next to that is a real curiosity, a 2005-P Bison that looks "antiqued", for lack of a better word. Is this what these will look like at the turn of the 22nd century? Also snagged a 2007 Canadian quarter from the coin counter reject chute.


Got there early enough to try out $200 in halves. No silver, but the three oddities shown above were cool enough to keep. First is a holed 1998-P, and as holes go, this one was rather neatly done. Next is evidence that half hunters are sharpie-ing their territory in Vegas as "1365" adorns the reverse of this 1999-P. What could this represent? Surely this hunter isn't marking every 99-P he/she encounters? Up next was the first proof half I've found in awhile, a 1988-S. Had dozens of proof halves before liquidating them a few years back.

So that was it. Not the most memorable outing but some fun additions to the collection. May go one more time before my Nov stay. We'll see...

Fun Stats: First 43-P since 8/22/17. I completed my first roll of 43-P's on 2/9/03 and it took only six years (11/12/09) to finish roll #2.

This Week in Casino Searching History: In 2004, I completed a roll of 1946-S nickels.

 

[CardsNCoins]

Thanks for the update Immy, and nice pull on the 43P. As for the halves, the 1365 marking on the half dollar could be a reversed date (May 6, 2013) so he knows what day he searche it and put it back into circulation, or maybe the searcher's date of birth (Jan. 3, 1965). We'll probably never know.

How increased will your searching be for the 2 day stay?

 

[Immy]

Thanks for the update Immy, and nice pull on the 43P. As for the halves, the 1365 marking on the half dollar could be a reversed date (May 6, 2013) so he knows what day he searche it and put it back into circulation, or maybe the searcher's date of birth (Jan. 3, 1965). We'll probably never know.

Good enough guess to me.

How increased will your searching be for the 2 day stay?

It depends on a few things, but mostly stamina. After a regular visit I start getting weary around the 6 hour mark. Having a place to crash will help to recharge. Will definitely try all denoms, especially quarters, which I sadly neglect. Gotta be a W somewhere in that place. I'm kinda curious about the dollar machines too and what those tokens look like.

I also want to seek out flattened penny machines, of which there are quite a few in the area. With the cooler weather here, a nice walk thru the neighborhood will be a great way to break up the day.
Oh! Did I mention with a minimum 2-day stay I get a free prime rib dinner?

 

[Immy]

Wow, what a great Cortez hunt today. Yet another pre-staycation visit and I wasn't disappointed. Check out the spoils below!


That's right, another two-buffalo day and both were 100+ years old - 1913-S (Ty 1) & 1914-P, though only the latter ended up needing a date with Nic-a-Date. The date on the '13 isn't all that clear in the pic, but it's a solid G/VG. Believe it or not I've found a 13-S mound type before (12/6/08) but I had to restore the date on that one. Dang happy with both bisons!

But wait, there's more...

Wartime Nickels [459]

1942-P (11/4/19) [30]

1942-S (11/13/10) [20]

1943-P (10/26/19) [95]

1943-D (9/15/09) [8]

1943-S (8/27/19) [92]

1944-P (9/1/13) [47]

1944-D (9/24/19) [20]

1944-S (8/18/11) [21]

1945-P (6/6/18) [47]

1945-D (8/12/11) [20]

1945-S (9/3/19) [59]

Score another wartime silver (1942-P) my fifth for 2019, and also fifth different date/mm in a row. Can I go 11 for 11 without a repeater? We'll see. Another choice grab was this sweet 1939-S, my 17th over all and first since 9/11/08. Hard to notice these years in the casino's dim lighting but it was a lucky catch. It's the kind of date that will be easier to find in the quiet of a hotel room.

(Btw, I've added my wartime alltime totals to the grid. Which will be silver #500?)

Fun Stats: Buffalos are outpacing wartime silver for the year, 8-5. I'm fine with that!

This Week in Casino Searching History: In 2003 I found the most common Buffalo, a 1936.

 

[CardsNCoins]

A visit like this so close to your extended stay has to get the juices flowing for what might be. Good luck.

 

[Sleepy Holow]

A visit like this so close to your extended stay has to get the juices flowing for what might be. Good luck.

I agree with Nick, you gotta be excited after these latest low mintage finds. Heck, I'm excited to see what you come out of there with!

 

[Immy]

A visit like this so close to your extended stay has to get the juices flowing for what might be. Good luck.

I agree with Nick, you gotta be excited after these latest low mintage finds. Heck, I'm excited to see what you come out of there with!

Excited for sure, but I don't want my expectations to be unrealistic. So here are my modest goals:

Buffalos - 5 - Considering the latest averages, I think that's reasonable. I'd like to mark one off my Most Wanted list but that would be a bonus.

Wartime - 5 - Once again, within the realm of possibility.

Misc Jeff nickels - 3 - This category is the sub-10 million dates I still need to finish rolls (38DS, 39DS, 50PD, 55P). Oh, and a 2019P.

90% quarter - 1 - I still hear them from time to time.

W quarter - 1 - Really, I'd be happy with just one. Please?

90% Halves - 1 - Just to prove they're still out there.

40% halves - 3 - Certainly a fair estimate.

 

[GMan00001]

Excited for sure, but I don't want my expectations to be unrealistic. So here are my modest goals:

Buffalos - 5 - Considering the latest averages, I think that's reasonable. I'd like to mark one off my Most Wanted list but that would be a bonus.

Wartime - 5 - Once again, within the realm of possibility.

Misc Jeff nickels - 3 - This category is the sub-10 million dates I still need to finish rolls (38DS, 39DS, 50PD, 55P). Oh, and a 2019P.

90% quarter - 1 - I still hear them from time to time.

W quarter - 1 - Really, I'd be happy with just one. Please?

90% Halves - 1 - Just to prove they're still out there.

40% halves - 3 - Certainly a fair estimate.

Are you just going to buy rolls at the cash cage or cash out through the machine?

 

[Immy]

Are you just going to buy rolls at the cash cage or cash out through the machine?

Been thinking about this. Probably mostly machine coins. Not sure if they still have rolls anymore at the cages but if they do I'll go that route for halves. Ideally I'd like to purchase the fill bags ($100 nickels, $500 halves) and bring those back to the room, but I think they're earmarked only for the slot techs.

Main thing I've been trying to figure out is the best way to carry coins back and forth from the room. Casino cups only hold $40 in nickels and can be flimsy. I could bring some canvas vault bags with me which would allow more volume and have less potential for spillage, but they're clumsier when dumping into the coin counters.

Open for suggestions.

 

[Megalodon]

I like your project and look forward to seeing the results. It will be interesting to see if you meet or exceed your goals, now that you have put them out there.

I've never been in a casino but would it be possible to put coins in sturdy plastic screw top containers and then put those containers in a canvas tote bag to bring them to your room?
I use a Land's End heavy canvas tote bag when I pick up my two boxes at the bank. They are much easier to handle in a tote bag with a strong handle. I load my dump coins into a variety of old plastic jars, from peanut butter jars (a 36 oz jar holds about $150) to grated cheese jars (hold $200-250) to slightly larger coconut oil jars (hold ($300). I can put four of those plastic jars full with $1000 total in halves in the same tote bag and then bring them in to my various credit unions to dump.

Is the hotel room lighting sufficient for examining the coins?

 

[Immy]

I like your project and look forward to seeing the results. It will be interesting to see if you meet or exceed your goals, now that you have put them out there.

Sure will be. Can't wait to find out myself.

I've never been in a casino but would it be possible to put coins in sturdy plastic screw top containers and then put those containers in a canvas tote bag to bring them to your room?
I use a Land's End heavy canvas tote bag when I pick up my two boxes at the bank. They are much easier to handle in a tote bag with a strong handle. I load my dump coins into a variety of old plastic jars, from peanut butter jars (a 36 oz jar holds about $150) to grated cheese jars (hold $200-250) to slightly larger coconut oil jars (hold ($300). I can put four of those plastic jars full with $1000 total in halves in the same tote bag and then bring them in to my various credit unions to dump.

I try not to be conspicuous. Carrying coin in anything unusual can draw attention, which is obviously not what I want. The canvas bank bags are probably the best alternative. If I start adding various containers it'll just look odd, especially over many hours/days. $100 in nickels I can easily cradle in one arm in the bank bags, and that's the heaviest I'll be lugging. $200-$300 in quarters or halves won't be as bad. One fact is inescapable though - wherever my room is, it's nowhere near the coin-op slot areas, so I'll get my steps in lol. Just hope it's not waaaaay down the end of the hallway.

Is the hotel room lighting sufficient for examining the coins?

I'll be happy if there's simply a table big enough to enable proper sorting. Already counting on a sore neck but if that gets really bad I'll severely cut back on the room sorting. Lighting will have to do in whatever form.

 

[Sleepy Holow]

A few things here...honestly, take it or leave it...just my two cents...

1) Transport of Coin - I swear by the canvas bags, but in this situation I might go with a bag inside an unmarked box inside a small suitcase with wheels. Suitcase will help you with your distance issues. Box will prevent your coins from spilling all over your suitcase. Canvas bag is what coins belong in...haha. Also, he suitcase would look more touristy and help you bring your dump coins out to your vehicle if that's your dump plan. Only downside is with the low ceilings in there, you'll probably have to Febreze your suitcase after the stay-cation.

2) Desk - Call ahead and request a room with a desk. From online pics, it looks like not all rooms have them.

3) Lighting - If you have a favorite/proven portable lamp, I would bring that.

4) Bringing Suspicion - From what I've seen down there, if you act like you're supposed to be doing whatever it is that you're doing, no one will ask you otherwise. If someone that works there does ask you what you're doing, you can always say something like "Gettin' my money straight for tonight..."

5) Timing of Pickups - If you do go to the cage, try to split up your pickups in such a way that allows you to see as many different employees as possible. Basically, if you want to search a bunch of coin that night, hit the cage once when you check in, a second time when you're ready to start going through the coin that night, and a third time before you go to bed. Maybe that looks like 3pm, 8pm, and midnight...or something like that. The midnight one could be for a morning searching session and then you could pick up an 8am batch as well. Fool proof!

6) Personal Experience - That place is known as the Sweaty Spaniard in the card counting community due to the amount of heat you get from the blackjack pit bosses. One thing I used to do was sit directly to the right of the blackjack dealer, so I could rim check their halves. Every once in a while I would catch a glimpse of a 40%er. It's kinda tricky to get it out of there though without saying "can i get that milky white looking half", so I'd say "Can I get $5 in halves please?" in order to get deep enough into their stack to draw it out. They always thought it was a weird request, but whatever. On a personal note, that's the only casino I ever got politely asked to leave due to "the way I was betting at the blackjack table"! Single deck bj, what do you expect! Good times...

7) Gambling - May be applicable, may not...If you don't gamble anymore, don't get sucked back into old habits that you've sworn off. You're going there to get buffs, not help them build their next wing. You know what they say - "someone has to pay for the lights"...don't let it be you.

 

[Immy]

^^
This was equal parts laughs & good advice...and may be the best response so far in this whole crazy thread.

I'll let you know what works and what doesn't.

 

[GMan00001]

Been thinking about this. Probably mostly machine coins. Not sure if they still have rolls anymore at the cages but if they do I'll go that route for halves. Ideally I'd like to purchase the fill bags ($100 nickels, $500 halves) and bring those back to the room, but I think they're earmarked only for the slot techs.

Main thing I've been trying to figure out is the best way to carry coins back and forth from the room. Casino cups only hold $40 in nickels and can be flimsy. I could bring some canvas vault bags with me which would allow more volume and have less potential for spillage, but they're clumsier when dumping into the coin counters.

Open for suggestions.

Here are a couple of other suggestions for the transportation side of things.

1) Cargo pants - You could always wear a good pair of cargo pants and fill your pockets with coins to go back and forth to your room. If you try this, just make sure you wear a strong belt and walk slow... Note: I have done this a few times to carry coins into a casino to cash in. As it has been over 10 years since I tried this, I don't remember exactly how much I carried in, but I feel like it was in the $75-$100 range (all in nickels). One downside is it can take awhile to fill/empty your pockets one handful at a time.

2) Wool Socks - You could do what my dad used to to when he would stop by a casino that was half way between my house and his. He brought some extra big wool socks and either filled them directly with coins or put the filled casino cups in the socks and then carried the socks like canvas bags to/from his car. As this isn't a standard practice, however, this may draw undesired attention.

3) Backpack - A strong backpack would likely be able to handle fairly significant weight, would be easy to fill, and wouldn't look to out of place unless you decide to get a skip in your step and the coins start jingling too much.


if you really want to do it in style you could combine 1 and 3. Wear and fill cargo pants as well as a backpack with each trip...