Dice, like Poker Chips, came in all sizes and were made from various types of materials. Dice ranged from a simple pair of hand-carved bone
made on the battlefield during the Civil War, which provided a diversion for the men when not in battle, to a pair of fancy scrimshawed ivory
dice carried by a Professional Gambler or Sharper.  Dice were small enough that they could be carried in a vest pocket or even as a watch fob.  

    Because Dice were so convenient, a game, during slow periods of the day could break out at the bar, the general store or
   even the barbers. Just about any place men gathered a game was possible and more time then not it did happen. Dice have
   been used throughout Asia since before recorded history. The oldest known dice were excavated as part of a 5000-year-old 
   backgammon set, at the Burnt City archeological site in south-eastern Iran. Excavations from ancient tombs in the Harappan
   civilization, seem to further indicate a South Asian origin. Dicing is mentioned as an Indian game in the Rig Veda, Atharva
   Veda and Buddha games list. It is also mentioned in the great Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, where Yudhisthira plays a game of
   dice against the Kauravas for the Northern Kingdom of Hastinapura.