Reno Silver Dollar Spree Promotion 1960's

Interesting, thanks for posting.
John1

Two stories separated by generations....

1) In 1973, the first time I went to Vegas the major point that sticks in my mind was most slot machines were still circulating silver dollars. Maybe 1 in every 3 or 4. Mostly Peace, but hey. Boy, I wish I knew then what I know now.

2) Many decades later, my wife and I are at a half dollar slot machine. I would put in a $20 bill and cash out. Sweep my 'loot' for 90% silver (very very few) but was having decent luck with 65-70 40% Kennedy halves. Without ever pulling a lever, I would add back the few dollars worth I extracted, then have my wife trade in the non-keepers for bills. Repeat.

After doing this 10-15 times, I noticed every time I cashed out, the noise of the falling coins attracted one particular gentleman from nearby to start casually overlooking my 'payouts' - thinking each was the result of a WIN. When I noticed him, being the BBuster I am, I started cheering "YES!", "WOW", "Holy crap!" with each cash out. He thought I was soaking the casino real good. In reality I WAS winning - cost me nothing to get many 40%'ers.

I just wish I could have seen the look on his face, with eager anticipation, when my wife and I abandoned that machine! I'll be he was in that seat in 3.5 seconds flat.

TNG....

All things considered, the packaging is still in pretty good shape for 50 years old. The cellophane baggie the coin is in has been repaired with some Scotch magic tape to reinforce a couple of weak spots. It is the type of cello that was used for the old proof sets that came in a box in the early 50's. The coin has held up well over the years.

The motel advertising and promotional info is in excellent shape. The staples are not rusty and cannot touch the coin.

With 800 numbers in the advertising I can date the promotion to sometime beginning in the late 1960's as 800 numbers were first used around 1967.

It was not hard for a promoter, or advertising agency, to come up with something like this for a client. Bags of BU silver dollars were readily available in Nevada in the late 60's. Single BU common date Morgan's could be purchased for 2 or 3 bucks each all day long back then.

I kinda put this item more into my collectible advertising stuff instead of my coin stuff. Kinda neat when you find two hobby fields that are blended together!

Suipakungfu....

It would be nice to see one from an original owner and learn how they were originally distributed and why.

Feel free to post pics of yours, too! The more the merrier!

There is also one on the 'bay but a little pricey in my opinion.

Key Motels seems to have been a national chain at one time and there were several Key Motels in Nevada including the Gold Key Motel in Reno. I also tried checking for the Nevada State Motel Association, thought they might have some information but it apparently no longer exists, if it ever did. I did find a Nevada State HOTEL association, but it has only been active since 1979 and that would be too late for a promotion such as this.

I haven't tried calling the toll free number.

I would be surprised to find dollar slots still using Morgan or Peace dollars in 1973 as even by then they were 2 or 3 dollars apiece just for the silver.

Nice! Thanks for posting!

Interesting story, thanks for sharing.