🗽 A Token of the City: The Full History of NYC Subway Tokens
Before MetroCards and OMNY readers, New Yorkers carried a tiny metallic passport to the underground: the subway token. It wasn’t just fare—it was a symbol of the city’s pulse, a tangible artifact of an ever-changing metropolis. From 1953 to 2003, subway tokens clinked in pockets and turned in palms, marking five decades of transformation in New York City.
In this deep dive, we’re going beyond the basics. Each token tells a story—of rising fares, urban design, economic crisis, and even street crime. Let’s follow the trail of tokens through time, one fare increase at a time.
1953 – The Birth of the Token: “Small Y”
Fare: 15¢ and 20¢ (1966) | Material: Brass | Diameter: 16.5mm
When the fare jumped from 10¢ to 15¢ in 1953, standard coins no longer cut it. The subway turnstiles were designed to accept dimes—so the Transit Authority had to create something new and foolproof: the NYCTA token.
The first version was tiny, made of solid brass, and featured a small “Y” cutout, symbolizing “NY” for New York. This subtle branding was both functional and iconic—it helped prevent fare evasion and gave the token a unique identity.
🎯 Why it mattered: The “Small Y” token marked the first standardized fare medium citywide across multiple subway lines. It was the beginning of the city's move toward fare integration.
🧠 Trivia: These tokens were so small they often fell through holes in riders' pockets, prompting complaints and redesigns in later years.
1970 – The “Large Y” Token
Fare: 30¢ + 35¢ (1972) + 50¢ (1975) | Material: Brass | Diameter: 23mm
With inflation and operating costs ballooning, the fare doubled by 1970 and kept going up, up and up thorugh the 1970’s. The Transit Authority responded with a redesigned, larger token, still made of brass but now with a much larger “Y” cutout in the center.
This “Large Y” design was easier to handle, harder to lose, and less prone to getting jammed in machines. It became one of the most widely recognized versions of the token.
🎯 Why it mattered: This token reflected the growing complexity of the transit system and the need for a more user-friendly interface—literally.
🧠 Trivia: Turnstiles were updated with new mechanisms that recognized only this larger size, reducing the chance of slugs (counterfeit coins) being used.
The famed Y subway token
💎 1979 – The Diamond Jubilee Token
Issued to commemorate: 75 years of subway service | Not a standard fare token
To mark the 75th anniversary of the New York City subway system, the MTA issued a commemorative Diamond Jubilee Token in 1979. Unlike standard fare tokens, this one was never widely circulated for use but was instead released as a souvenir and collector’s item.
🪙 Design:
Made of brass with a highly decorative face.
One side featured the inscription: “1904–1979, Diamond Jubilee, I Rode the Subway 75th Anniversary.”
The reverse showed the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) "number 1" car emerging from a tunnel.
🎯 Why it mattered:
It celebrated not only the subway's technological legacy but also its cultural significance as a connector of the city’s people, boroughs, and dreams.
🧠 Trivia:
Though not accepted in turnstiles, some people tried to use them — and some old token booths accepted them just for fun.
1980 – The Solid brass Token
Fare: 60¢ + 70¢ (1981) + 90¢ (1984) | Material: Brass with nickel center | Diameter: 23mm
By the time Ronald Reagan entered office, New Yorkers were paying 60¢ to ride the subway. The MTA released two different token styles during that year, each intended to help crack down on counterfeiting. One was the bi-metallic "Bullseye" token, but the lesser-known and often overlooked companion was the solid brass token with embossed lettering and no cutouts at all.
This version featured raised “NYC” letters boldly stamped across the face. There was no Y cutout, no center plug—just plain, solid brass with lettering that was easy to identify and hard to replicate.
🪙 Design highlights:
Solid brass, matte finish
Bold raised “NYC” on one side, often ringed with “New York City Transit Authority”
Smooth edge or slightly reeded, depending on batch
🎯 Why it mattered:
This token was part of the MTA’s ongoing war on turnstile fraud. With no cutouts, the design was harder to tamper with using wires, gum, or “token fishing” scams.
🧠 Trivia:
Some batches were rushed into circulation and had subtle variations in font size and alignment, making them prized by collectors today. These variations can sometimes fetch more than $50 at auctions depending on condition.
1986 – The “Bullseye” Token
Fare: $1.00 + $1.15 (1990) + $1.25 (1992) | Material: Brass | Diameter: 23mm
Enter the most visually distinctive token: the “Bullseye.”
This one featured a silver-colored, raised center surrounded by a brass ring—a look reminiscent of an actual target. Although the center looked like a separate metal, it was simply a different treatment on the same brass base.
🎯 Why it mattered: The design was a response to rampant counterfeiting and mechanical manipulation. Its two-tone appearance helped deter fraud.
🧠 Trivia: Some turnstiles were retrofitted with magnetic sensors to detect the distinct conductivity of the “Bullseye.”
1995 – The “Pentagon” Token
Fare: $1.50 | Material: Brass | Diameter: 23mm
The final token arrived in 1995—ushered in not with celebration, but with a warning: it would be the last of its kind.
Featuring a pentagon-shaped cutout in the center, this version looked starkly different from its predecessors. Its uniqueness was intentional—it was never meant to last. The MetroCard system had already launched in 1994 on a trial basis and would become the standard fare medium by the late ‘90s.
🎯 Why it mattered: It marked the end of an era. The pentagon token was a farewell to analog transit in an increasingly digital world.
🧠 Trivia: Even as MetroCards took over, the MTA kept accepting tokens until May 4, 2003.
🗃️ Special & Commemorative Tokens
Over the years, there were also special edition tokens, including:
Bus Tokens (smaller and not interchangeable with subway fare)
MTA Gold Tokens for promotional use
Commemorative tokens for centennials or historical events
Collectors prize these rare pieces, with certain editions fetching hundreds of dollars at auctions and coin shows.
💡 Token Lore: Weird But True
Some New Yorkers drilled holes in their tokens to wear them as necklaces or earrings.
Scam artists once rigged turnstiles with string to “fish” tokens back out.
At the peak of token usage, the MTA was minting over 50 million tokens per year.
🎞️ Tokens in Pop Culture
Subway tokens appeared in everything from Woody Allen films to TV sitcoms like Seinfeld. In the ‘90s, they became symbols of nostalgia, often featured in jewelry, art, and design.
Even today, they remain a beloved relic of a grittier, more tactile New York, when you knew the fare by the feel of metal in your hand—not by a tap on a glowing screen.
📅 Timeline of Fare Increases & Tokens
Year Fare Token Style
1953 15¢ Small “Y” Token
1970 30¢ Large “Y” Token
1980 60¢ Solid Brass Token
1986 90¢ Bullseye Token
1995 $1.50 Pentagon Token
2003—Tokens retired
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