Having just got back from my vacation in Las Vegas, my Step Father who was with me played a machine in Aladdin and won 9 Silver Strikes (at least that's what I think they were - I only collect chips personally). It was a $1 machine that paid (from his recollection) one coin for 3 sevens, and 3 coins for 3 sevens of the same colour. He didn't know what they were and cashed them all in at the cage for the $10 face value for each.

First question - were these silver strikes?

Next question - for someone who doesn't collect silver strikes, was this the right thing to do, or are they worth more than the $10 to collectors? If they are, then when we're back there again I can tell him to keep them and then maybe offer them to you guys who do collect them, or maybe use them as traders for chips. I'm not looking to make a profit (other than giving my Step Father the $10 rather than the casino), but just to maybe make a few trades at face value.

Any advice for the unitiated is very welcome!

Jason