Interesting thread, I started collecting back in 1997 when the hobby had turned the corner from having $7,$10,$20,$28, and $40 dollar machines to only having the $10 one. Silver was only a couple of bucks an ounce and we all were collecting Commemorative $10 Gaming Tokens not SILVER. Until recently when silver started it's rise was there ever a mention that we were SILVER collectors. Nobody complained that the $10 had a brass rim or that the $20 had a brass center, we all were collecting Gaming Tokens not the silver. I always thought the object of the hobby was to collect the coin not its contents. Not until the contents of the silver center started reaching the face value was SILVER ever mentioned as the collectable part of the coin. SILVER STRIKE was never on the machines until IGT introduced their new machines.
Saving the hobby could be as easy as using HSP as an interim metal to keep the machines in the casinos. It still has a SILVER content just not the present .999. Those casinos and Cruise Ships that had the HSP have not been collected any less for the non-Nevada collectors.
My whole point is that we need to do something now to save the hobby and put more machines in the casino's and if HPS is the instant temporary fix so be it. The tourist that help support the machines and play them day in and day out until we can show up our couple times a year could care less about the content of what their playing for because their playing for a "COLLECTABLE TOKEN" not the SILVER content with-in it. If SILVER was still $6 bucks an ounce not one collector would be crying their SILVER collectors. How times has changed in ten years.
Why is everybody scrambling to get $12 bucks for a ten dollar token ? Wait until SILVER gets to $100 an ounce then your SILVER collectors not Commemorative $10 Gaming Token collectors.
Beleive it or not, care for it or not but HSP can save our hobby.........Sorry, more than two cents worth, and I still collect the coin, Jeff Bitzer SS-291