Have you noticed this piece of subway history when you walk through the turnstile? It is the token return slot. It is what is left from a bygone era of how you paid for your subway ride. The token was introduced in 1953 when fares increased to 15-cents. Since there was no 15-cent coin, the transit authority created their own currency...the token. It was in use for 50 years and had 6 main designs, but the last one was called the Five Borough Token. The coin featured a cutout in the shape of a pentagon, which represented the five boroughs. According to the @nytransitmuseum , the token was made with a specific combination that made it a little bit magnetic. The turnstiles were able to detect that combination and if it was a counterfeit (the MTA called those slugs) would drop into the token return slot. The token was phased out in 2003 making way for the MetroCard and then OMNY. ........ ....... ...... ..... .... #nychistory #nyc #subway #losthistory #newyorkcity #nyctravel #nyclife #nyctour #thingstodoinnyc #discovernyc #iloveny #welovenyc #nyccommute #commuter #nycsubway #hiddenhistory #metrocards #omny #nycmuseums