Subway Tokens: A Brief History
New York Transit |
Subway |
Subway Tokens
| Metrocard
Compiled by Jason R. DeCesare, Richard Weil, and David Pirmann
1970-1972: 30 cents
1972-1975: 35 cents
1975-1980: 50 cents
Large Y Token
Mintage 50 million. The large Y cutout comes in two varieties, one
with larger lettering than the other. The large letter variety is
slightly scarcer than the smaller letter variety. To tell the
difference: The large letter variety looks like the lettering on the
solid brass NYC token.
On "NYC" the legs of the N are not deeply cut and there are no hooks
on the C. The small letter type looks similar to the preceding
small-Y variety, with both deeper cuts and hooks.
1979-1980: 50 cents
Diamond Jubilee Token
Issued to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the subway in
1979. Mintage 5.8 million, with some rare errors without the hole
punched.
1980-1981: 60 cents
1981-1983: 75 cents
1984-1985: 90 cents
Solid Brass NYC Token
Mintage 60 million.
1986-1990: $1.00
1990-1992: $1.15
1992-1995: $1.25
Bullseye Token
There are three variations of the "Bullseye" tokens. The first is
the "SJD" token, the first of the "Bullseye" series. The letters
"SJD" can be found on then "GOOD FOR ONE FARE" side between the "D" in
GOOD and the "F" in FOR (SJD may be the designers initials).
`
The second is the Archer Avenue Extension commemorative token, issued in
December 1988 to celebrate the opening of the Archer Avenue Extension
in Queens. Instead of "GOOD FOR ONE FARE" it says "ARCHER AV EXTENSION
12-88". The third is the "plain Bullseye" which lacks the "SJD" on the
token. Total mintage of all varieties 90 million; 100,000 were of the
Archer Avenue variety.
1995-2003: $1.50
Five Boroughs Pentagram Token
This token was newly minted in 1991 for the fare increase to $1.25,
but not used at that time. Instead they were held until the $1.50
fare increase in 1995. 60 million of these new tokens were minted. The
token was finally phased out in favor of the Metrocard system, just
after midnight on April 13, 2003.
The MetroCard
The MetroCard is the current payment method for the New York City Subway system,
buses in the New York City Transit (including routes operated by Atlantic Express
under contract to the MTA), MTA Bus, and Long Island Bus systems, the PATH subway system,
the Roosevelt Island Tram, AirTrain JFK, and Westchester County's Bee-Line Bus System.
Want to learn more about the Metrocard and how to get one?
