Final answer:
In the prison sub-rosa economy, cigarettes typically take on the symbolic value of money, functioning similarly to how casino chips work within a casino.
Step-by-step explanation:
Within the sub-rosa economy of a prison, cigarettes most often assume the symbolic value of money. This is comparable to how casino chips serve as money within a casino environment—they are a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and a store of value within the casino walls but do not have the same value outside. Similarly, in the prison economy, cigarettes can be traded for goods and services and are used as a standard of value and a store of value. They symbolize currency in environments where conventional money either isn't allowed or isn't practical for use.