Can anyone tell me if the New York city transit authority still issues tokens for there subways and buses? I picked up a token today smaller then a dime with the New York city transit authority on one side and good for one fare on the other. And if they do not issue this small token any more when did they stop?
nyc does not use tokens any more. they use plastic metro cards. dont know when they stopped using the tokens thou.
From Wikipedia, The MTA discontinued the use of tokens on the subway in May 2003 and on buses on December 31, 2003,replaced by the MetroCard,a thin, plastic card on which the customer electronically loads fares.
I just wish I could sell all of those old tokens that I have. Some I found metal detecting, some I just got stuck with, when they changed fares. But, none are any good any more. Perhaps someday they'll be good collectibles.
The small sized ones were the early tokens, I remember using teh in the 1950's to the early 60's (yup, older than dirt). The, with the increase in fare from 15 cents to 25 cents, they changed the size to prevent people from hoarding them. Then the tokens had Y holes, then no holes, then a plug. And variations on the theme for the next forty years or so.
"The small sized ones were the early tokens, I remember using teh in the 1950's to the early 60's (yup, older than dirt)." I stated the above, about myself, and I am sorry if I offended anyone about my age. Just the opinion of my kids.
http://www.nycsubway.org/tech/tokens/ http://www.gothamgazette.com/article//20030428/202/362 http://www.everythingnyc.com/nycsubfivtok.html
mrbrklyn: Thanks for the info and links, I forgot about some of those tokens. That set with the holder is really neat.
One could have a sizeable collection just of New York City transit tokens. The Atwood-Coffee Catalogue of United States and Canadian Transportation Tokens lists 98 major types and 40 minor die varieties.
