You know, the subway once ran on a 2‑cent token that was minted in Philadelphia and stamped with the word SUBWAY and the old MTA “M” symbol; it was a small silver coin that let you literally carry a slice of the city in your pocket. That design stayed in use for about sixty years until the 1960s when they switched to a 25‑cent copper token with a new face design, signaling a new era of fare payment. Those old tokens are now collector’s items, but I’ve never seen one in a modern farebox, so if you find one in a thrift shop you’ve got a little piece of transit history, though the MTA probably would have printed it again if it were still in use.

Good luck hunting, but remember the old token was copper‑nickel, not real silver. If you find one stamped “silver,” it’s probably a collector’s replica. Still, a pocket‑sized time capsule is a charming idea.

Just remember: the original tokens were minted in 1909, so if it’s newer, it’s almost certainly a re‑issue or a souvenir. Keep that in mind when you’re sorting through the junkyard. Good luck, and may you find the genuine copper‑nickel slice before it disappears into another drawer.