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 Replies: 19 / Views: 8,120 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
I'm not really collector, but I do find them occasionally. Here's what I found last Saturday:  NYC Bridge and Tunnel Tokens  1 of the large, 8 of the small ones |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1104 Posts |
Hello VA Collector, yes there is a fairly large transit token collecting community. I have a rather large collection. And also check the links others posted above.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Welcome to the CCF, VA Collector. Hope you enjoy the "ride" as I certainly do.
In my travels, I periodically encounter vecturists at shows. It's probably the most affordable token collecting avenue, and there are ever so many locations to be hunted and had. Personally, I prefer the 1800's issues, CWT's, HTT's and the later horsecar and steamboat issues - signs of the times.
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Valued Member
United States
134 Posts |
I do have old tokens from the 80s with the hex hole in the middle n.y.c. Transit when it was $1.25 the good days.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1757 Posts |
I found the West Indies series like Jamaica have street car or rail tokens ... these are rare but like everything else in this series pretty reasonably priced ...
John Lorenzo
United States
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
I collect tokens, mostly trade tokens, good for's and the like, but I have amassed a small collection of transportation tokens. I have a trolly token, couple of bus tokens, toll token and I think a rail road token.
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Valued Member
United States
309 Posts |
I have a few MBTA (Boston) Tokens.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1104 Posts |
I have a bunch of the Boston tokens too, but I mostly keep my New York City tokens. The ones from early in the century (Before the transit system was consolidated and the "NYC Transit Authority" was formed), are scarce and can be worth quite a bit.
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New Member
 United States
34 Posts |
I think I have about 5 different NYC subway token designs. I mostly have toll tokens for highways like in my area I have some Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike tokens that were back when they had toll plazas on I-95 here in central VA.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1104 Posts |
I currently have around 62 different New York City transportation token designs and types. And not nearly done with the set. The older and more scarce tokens do not say "NYC Transit" and pre-date the NYC Transit Authority. But rather were issued by the many separate and private operators and they will have the name of the individual borough or county; like Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, etc.. Or the name of the streets trolleys ran on; like Third Ave, 42nd street, 8th Ave, etc.. Or the name of the company that issued them; like Tri-Boro Coach, H&M, Perry Turnstiles, East Side Omnibus, etc..
The more recent ones (since about 1950) will have the NYCTA logo and most of those are quite common, but people know those and so they love collecting them mostly because it is what we can remember using. So there is a high nostalgic value attached with them. People make all sorts of jewelry, cuff links and stuff out of them. But they are not really that old or scarce..
Believe me, there are not too many people around today that can remember the old trolleys, railroads or horse drawn omnibuses that were used as transportation back in the day. So the older tokens that were used for those are not as widely known as the NYC Transit Authority tokens.
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Valued Member
Germany
85 Posts |
Interesting... I have a couple thousand world type coins and about a dozen transit tokens. I never really knew the tokens were collectable.
Is there a cataloging system similar to KM, but for transit tokens?
My tokens are from when Minneapolis and St. Paul had streetcars.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Welcome to the CCF, Amwyll. There was a now decades old catalog that was produced by a chap named Atwood. Copies of his book can be found selling for $30 or so. To my experience, the early streetcar tokens can presently be had for $10 on up.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1104 Posts |
Quote:
Is there a cataloging system similar to KM, but for transit tokens? Yes, called the "The Atwood-Coffee Catalogue of United States and Canadian Transportation Tokens". It is the equivalent for transportation tokens that the Krause Catalog is for coins. It also contains a small section devoted to amusement ride and other miscellaneous tokens. But as the title suggests it is limited to United States and Canadian issues. The 6th edition is the latest title, (as of this writing), compiled and published in 2007 by the AVA... 'New Retail' value for this book is approximately $45-$60 U.S., but older editions and previously owned books can be found for much less. You can also get a discount on the catalogue's with your membership to the "American Vecturist Association". Membership benefits include access to other literature and information for transit token collectors. Quote:
My tokens are from when Minneapolis and St. Paul had streetcars. FYI, The current catalogue lists approximately 37 known "regular" issue transit tokens for Minneapolis, value's listed range from .25 cents to $300. And lists 12 regular issues for St. Paul, ranging from .25 cents to $50. By "regular" I mean examples of tokens issued for the general public use. The total number of known examples increases when you include fantasies, manufacturers samples, time table tokens, die varieties & errors, presentation pieces, club tour tokens, etc. |
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Valued Member
Germany
85 Posts |
Thanks Harry and ExoGuy - You've piqued my interest.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1143 Posts |
I will add that many use the Atwood guide and many tokens trade at a multiple of the prices listed. A dealer will sell at 1.4 times book for example. While common tokens will in many cases trade right at book price. Also there is another Atwood guide devoted just to die varieties. If you join the AVA (American Vecturist Society) then you get their newsletter which constantly updates the Atwood book with new findings. It is a very interesting part of Exonumia.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 8,120 |
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Posted 03/15/2014 01:35 am
