CTA Token - Chicago Transit Authority
This listing is made to order and will ship within three weeks of purchase. The featured piece is an original Chicago Transit Authority token, used during a time when the city’s transit system was still run by coins and conductors. Each token has passed through the hands of thousands of Chicagoans — a tangible piece of the city’s living history.
The setting is a fully hand-fabricated in your choice of solid 18k gold or sterling silver. The result is a pendant that feels both industrial and refined — a tribute to the grit and legacy of the Windy City.
Token Description
In 1950, the CTA started selling tokens for use on the surface system. Tokens eventually became accepted on both buses and rapid transit trains, and by the time of their retirement in 1999 cost $15.00 for ten, equal to ten times the single cash fare. For years, ten tokens had cost $13.50, offering a discount. But, with the introduction of the stored value Transit Card, the CTA offered this discount instead on Transit Cards to encourage riders to switch. Reduced fare tokens were also available. Full fare tokens are silver and about 5/8 inches in diameter. Reduced fare token are the exact same design, except they're stamped in copper and are larger, about 3/4 inches in diameter. On June 1, 1999, the CTA retired tokens for good, accepting only Transit Cards and cash fares (on buses).
Type: Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Token
Date: Typically mid-20th century (circa 1950s–1990s)
Design:
“CTA” cut-out letters or raised design
Copper
Slight variations depending on issue date
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Setting Options:
Handmade 18k yellow gold bezel
Handmade sterling silver bezel
Chain: Not included (available separately)
This listing is made to order and will ship within three weeks of purchase. The featured piece is an original Chicago Transit Authority token, used during a time when the city’s transit system was still run by coins and conductors. Each token has passed through the hands of thousands of Chicagoans — a tangible piece of the city’s living history.
The setting is a fully hand-fabricated in your choice of solid 18k gold or sterling silver. The result is a pendant that feels both industrial and refined — a tribute to the grit and legacy of the Windy City.
Token Description
In 1950, the CTA started selling tokens for use on the surface system. Tokens eventually became accepted on both buses and rapid transit trains, and by the time of their retirement in 1999 cost $15.00 for ten, equal to ten times the single cash fare. For years, ten tokens had cost $13.50, offering a discount. But, with the introduction of the stored value Transit Card, the CTA offered this discount instead on Transit Cards to encourage riders to switch. Reduced fare tokens were also available. Full fare tokens are silver and about 5/8 inches in diameter. Reduced fare token are the exact same design, except they're stamped in copper and are larger, about 3/4 inches in diameter. On June 1, 1999, the CTA retired tokens for good, accepting only Transit Cards and cash fares (on buses).
Type: Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Token
Date: Typically mid-20th century (circa 1950s–1990s)
Design:
“CTA” cut-out letters or raised design
Copper
Slight variations depending on issue date
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Setting Options:
Handmade 18k yellow gold bezel
Handmade sterling silver bezel
Chain: Not included (available separately)
This listing is made to order and will ship within three weeks of purchase. The featured piece is an original Chicago Transit Authority token, used during a time when the city’s transit system was still run by coins and conductors. Each token has passed through the hands of thousands of Chicagoans — a tangible piece of the city’s living history.
The setting is a fully hand-fabricated in your choice of solid 18k gold or sterling silver. The result is a pendant that feels both industrial and refined — a tribute to the grit and legacy of the Windy City.
Token Description
In 1950, the CTA started selling tokens for use on the surface system. Tokens eventually became accepted on both buses and rapid transit trains, and by the time of their retirement in 1999 cost $15.00 for ten, equal to ten times the single cash fare. For years, ten tokens had cost $13.50, offering a discount. But, with the introduction of the stored value Transit Card, the CTA offered this discount instead on Transit Cards to encourage riders to switch. Reduced fare tokens were also available. Full fare tokens are silver and about 5/8 inches in diameter. Reduced fare token are the exact same design, except they're stamped in copper and are larger, about 3/4 inches in diameter. On June 1, 1999, the CTA retired tokens for good, accepting only Transit Cards and cash fares (on buses).
Type: Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Token
Date: Typically mid-20th century (circa 1950s–1990s)
Design:
“CTA” cut-out letters or raised design
Copper
Slight variations depending on issue date
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Setting Options:
Handmade 18k yellow gold bezel
Handmade sterling silver bezel
Chain: Not included (available separately)
Why buy from Peregrine Pendants?
I specialize in setting ancient coins. As a collector, I create jewelry to share these amazing objects. Setting them, however, requires knowledge because of their irregular shapes. There are some quality competitors, but most sellers fall outside of that group. What’s even worse than a poorly set coin is one that is forced into pre-made bezels. These may be suitable for some modern, machine-made, coins, but they are not for hand-struck ancient coins. We offer a range of settings and of coin types. What setting works best depends on the coin’s characteristics and the customer’s preference. For thin coins, I prefer a prong setting, and for thicker ones, a bezel setting. I wrote a blog on settings. Regarding pricing, many sellers take advantage of unaware buyers that think that something must be worth a lot since the coins are that old. In fact, many ancient coins can be bought for a modest price. It all depends on the coin and its quality. Certainly, if you are looking for an Athenian owl tetradrachm, you are going to have to spend quite a bit. When I am done setting, I research the competition before I price any pendant. Through this process, I think I offer my items at unbeatable prices. Feel free to message me if you think you found a better deal elsewhere (for the same coin type, in a similar condition, and set in the same way).
A note on import costs
Import fees, duties, customs fees etc. charged by the buyer's country will be the sole responsibility of the buyer. It is impossible for me to know what these fees are so please direct your questions on these matters to your country's customs department. I cannot refund postage on orders that are returned because of customs issues, including refusal to pay customs on the part of the buyer.condition, and set in the same way).
