The E-Sylum:  Volume 6, Number 3, January 19, 2003, Article 12

TOKEN MANUFACTURERS LOSING BIGGEST CUSTOMER.

  Dick Johnson writes: "The commonest transportation token
  for collectors have almost always been from New York City.
  For token manufacturers NYC, their biggest customer,
  won't be buying any more of the brass discs with the familiar
  grill border with the pierced centers.

  New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority said
  Monday, January 13th, this is the end of the line for their
  subway token (which also was used for surface buses and
  Staten Island Railway fares). It took the first step to phase
  out tokens and many of the booths at subway entrances
  that dispense tokens: so long to the curt "How many?"

  Also involved is the projected increase in price. Would you
  believe they are floating a $2 per ride price?  And how many
 of us remember the ten-cent fare?

  The token changed over the years. As prices increased
  intermittently since 1953 so did the token varieties. Early
  tokens of that period had the Y of NYC pierced out. When
  the fare changed in 1970 the MTA kept the same design
  -- and the same Y-shaped hole -- but increased the size. In
  1979 they introduced a solid token (with a commemorative
  design, really!) for a 75th anniversary.

  Following 1980 and a new fare increase they kept a solid
  token with no piercing.  In 1986 incuse grill work with
  round center hole and finally, in 1995 raised grill with
  pentagon aperture.

  What's coming are more Metro-Cards to be swiped at the
  turnstiles.  And $120 will give you unlimited rides for an
  entire month.  For their centennial next year, in 2004, will
  the MTA issue a commemorative swipe card?  No?  How
  about a Century of Straphanger Abuse Medal then?"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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