These small crown poker chips with the presidential seal were originally made in 1949 for Harry S. Truman's C-118 Liftmaster presidential plane built by the Douglas Aircraft Company. In 1954, during the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration, a second set was ordered for his Lockheed Constellation plane built by the Lockheed Corporation.
In 1954, after leaving office, Truman (an avid poker player) ordered another set of these chips, now with HTS initials on the back. A partial set of these chips are held in the Truman Presidential Library (Independence, MO). For more on Truman's poker playing habits, see this National Archives article. |