In 2013, Hasbro hosted an Online Poll on Facebook to decide which token should be retired, and which new token should be added.
The five new choices were: Ring, Robot, Cat, Guitar and Helicopter
Users were asked to select their favourite existing token, and their favourite new token. The existing token with the least votes was retired from new sets published from 2013.
The Iron was retired, with the Cat topping the new token poll, with 31% of the popular vote
To celebrate the event, a special Monopoly was launched with all 5 new token options, in addition to the existing eight. The tokens were also gold coloured.
This would be the last Hasbro edition to see the Iron feature.
The Speed Die was implemented in Monopoly Mega Edition, first published in 2006. The extra red die is not used for determining doubles; but if a triple is rolled, the player may move to any square on the board. The Speed Die was introduced to all Monopoly sets, and official tournaments from 2007 (2008 in the UK). It was dropped from UK sets after the 2015 release. Although can still be selected as an option in some Monopoly video games, and is continued to be included in the USA.
When the Speed Die is implemented, all players take any extra £1000, making the starting cash amount £2,500. The Speed Die is added to the two white dice once you have passed Go for the first time
Rolling any number adds that to your move total
Rolling the Bus allows you to move either the value on any one of the standard dice; or move normally
Rolling Mr Monopoly advances you to the nearest unowned property after your normal turn. If all properties are purchased. Move to your opponent’s nearest unmortgaged property
Tokens represented house life, with the Battleship being used as they were mass produced for Parker Brother’s failed game – Conflict
c1942:
Due to the outbreak of World War II, tokens were made out of wood bases and cardboard.
Rocking horse temporarily replaces the Thimble
c1943:
Tokens taken from Waddington’s ’64 Milestones’. Different coloured ‘thin’ and ‘broad’ pawns used. c1942 Wooden tokens were also used during this period, and would return the year after
c1948:
Wooden tokens returned with coloured bases
c1953:
Tank, Tractor, Train, Car, Motorcycle and Ship
Tokens made from coloured metal – transport theme
1960s – 1990s:
Dog introduced to the line-up.
Tokens were initially made from lead and tin, before pewter was used instead
1990s:
Thimble returns with wheelbarrow, cannon and Horse & Rider debuting.
2008:
Cannon + Horse & Rider dropped
2013:
The Iron was retired in favour of the Cat.
See the 2013 ‘Save Your Token’ Event
2017:
Thimble, Boot and Wheelbarrow all retired after a public vote. T-Rex, Penguin and Rubber Duck the new replacements.
See the 2017 ‘Token Madness’ Event
USA:
1935 – 1950s:
USA Editions often included the Lantern, Purse and Rocking Horse.
The Lantern and Rocking Horse were retired in favour of the Dog and Horse + Rider.
Purse was a rarer token and did not appear in all editions during this time.
The Cannon was also a token in the original line-up, also taken from Conflict. UK sets later gained this token in the 1950s.
1997 – 2007:
The Money Bag was temporarily included in USA editions (retired in 2007)
It won a public vote against a Piggy Bank and Plane
This is the first time I am aware of this special edition, sadly I do not have any information about…