Riviera Casino Gaming Token Grand Opening 1955 Colored Enamel Large Case

Description

Riviera Hotel and Casino Limited Edition Gaming Token
Riviera Grand Opening 1955
Hand Painted Enamel
Millennium Countdown
Year Released: 1999
Case/Capsule Approximately 2
¾
inches in diameter.
Token is approximately 1 ⅝ inches in diameter
Mint Mark = OC, Osborne Coinage
Chip Guide #: CG122155
Kept in the original air tight capsule with foam ring
Front:
Center: Riviera Grand
Opening 1955
On the Rim: Riviera Hotel & Casino, Ten Dollar Gaming Token
Back:
Center:  1999 2000, Las Vegas, NV OC mint mark
On the Rim: Riviera Hotel & Casino,
Ten Dollar Gaming Token
The Riviera Hotel and Casino issued a variety of tokens for different events throughout the years.
Please look carefully at the photos.  Although the token has been kept in its airtight case with foam ring for 20+ years, there may be some toning due to age.
About the Millennium Countdown Tokens:
This is an
excerpt from Casino Chip and Token News/Summer 2005 - by Allan Anderson
"1999: Riviera presented a rare opportunity to win special hand-painted tokens created and issued by Osborn Coinage, minted exclusively for the resort at their Millennium Countdown machines.  These machines were located adjacent to the Splash Showroom. Every time a person won a payout of 60 coins or higher with maximum coins played, they got to choose one of the four specially designed collector's items."
At that time, no other Nevada casinos had issued a hand-painted tokens.
About the Riviera:
The Riviera Hotel and Casino, also known as "The Riv", opened in April 1955 and closed its doors in May 2015 - 60 years in business. The address was 2901 Las Vegas Boulevard South.  The Riviera
was the 9th resort built on the famous Las Vegas Strip.  At its largest, the casino offered about 1,000 slot machines and 25 table games and the hotel had about 2,100 rooms. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority purchased the property in 2015. The resort was closed and demolished to make way for a new project: Las Vegas Global Business District which will be an exhibit and meeting center project.  UPDATE:  The Boring company is now working on its first underground
transportation system for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority.
Liberace was the opening headliner for the Riviera in 1955.  Some of the most famous and longest running acts in Las Vegas were at the Riviera and include Crazy Girls, Splash, and An Evening at La Cage.  The Riviera was often chosen as an onsite movie
location due to its history and recognition as an iconic Las Vegas landmark.  Some of the films that the Riviera appeared in include:  Ocean's 11 (1969), Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Butterfly (1982), GLOW Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (1986-1989), Casino (1995), Showgirls (1995), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Con Air (1997), Vegas Vacation (1997), Go (1999), 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001), Crazy Girls Undercover (2008), 21 (2008), The hangover (2009), Ghost Adventures (2012, 2016), Sky (2015), Jason Bourne (2016).
Fun Fact:
Dean Martin had a 10% interest in the hotel at one time.
Fun Fact #2:
Steve Schirripa (Bobby Bacala of the HBO Series The Sopranos) started as a maitre'd at the Comedy Club.
Fun Fact #3:
The Riviera went bankrupt 3 months after it opened.
Fun Fact #4:
Marx Brothers Harpo and Gummo held minority interests at the opening
Fun Fact #5:
Like most hotel casinos in the 1950's and 1960's there were mob interests and skimming
accusations.
Please feel free to ask any questions.
Thanks for looking.
SSC
Member 055