Entered into the Hanttula Dept. of Future Antiquities, a collection of old transit and tax tokens. Scanned in high resolution for your inspiration and enjoyment. Descriptions of each are listed below, for those interested. Mostly, I post items like these for my friends in the graphic design, art department, or prop design worlds. Enjoy!
Vintage Los Angeles Transit Lines Transportation Token
A round token with a cutout badge or shield in its center. One side has the text “GOOD FOR ONE FARE;” the other features the text “LOS ANGELES LINES” surrounding a central cutout designed to resemble a shield with the word “TRANSIT”. The token was valid for streetcars and buses operated by the Los Angeles Transit Lines, in use between 1946 and 1961. It is made of a white metal alloy, typically copper-nickel.
Vintage Los Angeles Railway Token
A round token with a cutout center shaped like a bell, featuring the text “LOS ANGELES RAILWAY” stamped around the edge (on the front) and “GOOD FOR ONE FARE” on the back. These tokens were used as fare payment for the “Yellow Cars” streetcar system that operated in Central Los Angeles between 1895 and 1963. Often made of nickel silver or brass, these tokens are generally common.
New York City Transit Authority Subway Token
A vintage brass subway token issued by the New York City Transit Authority, featuring a prominent cut-out “Y” designed to represent “NYC”. This specific “Large Y” cut-out token was used for subway and bus fares in New York City between 1970 and 1980. During its usage, the token covered a single fare, which increased in cost over the decade from 30 cents in 1970 to 50 cents by 1980. The token is made of brass and measures approximately 23 mm in diameter.
Pasadena City Lines Token
A vintage transportation token from Pasadena City Lines (used in Pasadena, California). The token features a rose pictorial in the center and is inscribed with “PASADENA CITY LINES INC.”. It was “Good for One Fare” (as noted on the back) for bus or trolley services. These tokens were used from 1948 through the 1990s, were made of nickel silver, measuring 22.8 mm in diameter, weighing 5.2 grams, and are very common.
Santa Monica Bus Token
A transportation token from the Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines (Santa Monica, California). The token is marked “GOOD FOR 3 ZONE FARE”, indicating it was used for a three-zone bus ride. It is a 20mm bronze token featuring a distinct triangular cutout in the center. These tokens were used between 1935 and 1952.
Virginia Electric & Power Co. Portsmouth Division Brass Transit Token
A vintage Virginia Electric & Power Co. Portsmouth Division “Good For One Fare” brass transit token. The Virginia Electric and Power Company was historically known as VEPCO and played a major role in local transportation services. The token is round with a large, distinctive cutout letter “P” in the center, representing the Portsmouth Division. It was used for public transportation fares, likely for buses or streetcars operated by the company. It’s approximately 23mm in diameter.
Washington State Sales Tax Token
A Depression-era Washington State sales tax token from the 1930s – 1940s. These tokens were used during the Great Depression to pay fractional sales tax on purchases of ten cents or less. The token is made of aluminum and has a hole in the center. Issued by the Washington Tax Commission, these tokens allowed merchants to make exact change for small transactions when the sales tax rate was a fraction of a cent. The Jefferson County Washington Facebook page has a good write-up on these coins, noting: “These tokens represented fractional sales tax—often one-tenth of a cent—and allowed merchants to make exact change. Customers would save them up and use them on future purchases, keeping transactions honest down to the smallest amount.”
Colorado Tax Token
A Depression-era Colorado tax token. These tokens, worth one-fifth of a cent (2 mills) and were used to pay fractional sales tax on small purchases (like the Washington token above). Made of aluminum, with a hole in the center, and the text “COLORADO SALES TAX STATE TREASURER” “ONE-FIFTH CENT Series A-35”.
Illinois Tax Token
Another Depression-era coin, this one is a 1935 Illinois Department of Finance 1 1/2 Mills Retailers Occupation Token. It was used as a sales tax token during the Great Depression. The token is made of aluminum and has a value of 1 1/2 mills, with one mill being equal to 1/10th of a cent. These tokens were used to pay fractional sales tax on small purchases, helping consumers avoid paying a full penny in tax on items costing only a few cents. It is a square-shaped token measuring approximately 1.5 cm by 1.5 cm.
