Jerry’s Nugget is a North Las Vegas casino that opened in 1964. In 1970 it ordered decks for its tables from the United States Playing Card Company that were never used; they ended up being sold in the casino’s gift shop and, over time, magicians turned them into one of the most sought-after decks for their handling. Since 2019 Conjuring Arts has reissued the design under licence from the casino, and the Marked Monotone series, funded on Kickstarter and made in collaboration with Riffle Shuffle, is its marked variant.

• PublisherConjuring Arts, in collaboration with Riffle Shuffle
• PrinterUnited States Playing Card Company
• Finishthin crushed Bee stock, traditional cut
• Markingfactory-marked, indicates suit and value
• Print run4,200 decks, numbered seal

Design

It keeps the traditional Jerry’s Nugget back, dominated by the casino’s marquee, printed in a single shade of green reminiscent of the baize on gaming tables (hence the name Felt Green). It is the most complete version of the series in terms of marking: the marquee design incorporates variations that reveal both the suit and the value of each card seen from the back, whereas the red and blue versions indicate only the suit. At a glance the back looks like the original.

Manufacturing

It is printed by the United States Playing Card Company on its premium Bee stock, in the thin crushed version (thin crushed: the paper is compressed to make it thinner and more flexible) to come close to the thickness of the original decks. It keeps the traditional cut, the old method in which the blade enters from the face of the card, giving an edge slightly different from the modern cut. It is a limited edition of 4,200 copies, with no reprints planned, and each tuck box carries a numbered seal.