Monopoly Tokens Timeline History
UK Graphical History

1936:

Original Cast of:

Thimble, Hat, Iron, Car, Boot and Battleship

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