Fares Please

The New York Subway System over the years used a number of methods of collecting fares. When the IRT subway opened in 1904, 5¢ tickets were issued that were chopped to cancel them. The IRT needed more money and were asking the city to allow them to raise the fare to 7¢. At that time they minted tokens that were never used, because the city refused to allow the fare increase.
By 1940 the BMT and IRT were taken over by the Board of Transportation and the fare was raised to 10¢ in 1948. By 1953 the Transit Authority was formed to replace the BofT and the fare was raised to 15¢ and the NYC Ttransit token was introduced. As the fare increased over the next 50 years, the token changed size and design until the last style, the Five Boro , named for the five sided hole in the middle. That style was taken out of service in favor of the Metrocards on April 13, 2003.

Raymond deKozan, founder of Cubic Transportation Systems and inventor of the Metrocard, passed away in October 2010. Obituaries from Crain's NY and Gothamist.

Use the index on the left to select one of the pages showing the various Subway Tokens and MetroCards used through the years. There are also pages devoted to Special MetroCards that offer one ticket for LIRR and the subway and Other Tokens used and not used on various lines in and around New York.
Also on the JoeKorNer: Tokens & Metrocards - NY City Transfers - Railroad Tickets

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