The End of the NYC MetroCard Era: Rare & Exclusive MetroCards from History101.NYC

MetroCard “Test Purposes Only” — The Controlled-Issue Card That Came Before the Public Rollout

Most people think of MetroCard history starting with the public launch and the early collectible releases. But long before MetroCard became a daily swipe—and long before the inaugural 1994 collector set—there were controlled test cards issued to evaluate the system in real-world conditions. This is one of those pieces: a true “behind-the-scenes” artifact that sits at the boundary between concept and citywide adoption.

The details on the card reinforce how early it is. The back includes a printed issue line and serial-style markings, and the card is dated 11/01/1993—a timestamp that places it firmly in the MetroCard testing period before MetroCard’s broader public presence. It’s a rare artifact not because someone decided it should be collectible, but because it was never meant to be collectible in the first place.

Before the MetroCard became a daily habit—swipe, turnstile, go—it was introduced as a major technology shift for New York City Transit. In January 1994, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launched MetroCard as a prepaid, card-based, automated fare-collection system for New York’s subway and bus network. The MTA’s own inaugural letter describes MetroCard as the foundation for a broader “universal card payments network,” with a vision that extended beyond transit fare into other everyday uses.

To commemorate the introduction, the MTA produced the MetroCard Inaugural Limited Edition Collector Series—a four-card set created specifically to mark the moment MetroCard arrived. According to the original MTA letter included with the set, only 20,000 of these four-card sets were produced and sold, making it one of the most important—and most limited—official MetroCard releases.

The First Subway Series MetroCard commemorates the inaugural regular-season Yankees vs. Mets Subway Series at Yankee Stadium, played June 16–18, 1997. Collectors document these MetroCards as a stadium giveaway distributed during the three-game series, often packaged with a postcard—turning NYC transit fare media into a piece of New York baseball history.

The NYC Subway Map Baseball is a New York Transit Museum Store souvenir featuring the iconic NYC Subway Map printed on a baseball. Listed as “NYC Subway Map Baseball”, it’s a playful piece of NYC transit ephemera that turns a familiar subway diagram into a collectible object with true Subway Series energy.

The Notorious B.I.G. MetroCard is a limited-edition NYC MetroCard released on May 21, 2022, marking what would have been Biggie Smalls’ 50th birthday. The MTA issued 50,000 cards, sold first-come, first-served through MetroCard vending machines at four Brooklyn stations, featuring a Notorious B.I.G. portrait on the reverse.

The Supreme MetroCard dropped in NYC on February 20, 2017—sold for $5.50 (two rides) and released through Supreme plus select MetroCard vending machines across eight subway stations. Now considered a modern collectible, it captures the moment streetwear collided with New York City transit culture and the MetroCard’s late-era hype.

The Victoria’s Secret MetroCard is a limited-edition MTA MetroCard released October 10, 2024, promoting the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The MTA issued 50,000 pink-and-white striped cards, sold only through select MetroCard vending machines at 42 St–Bryant Park, 34 St–Penn Station, Atlantic Av–Barclays Center, Queensboro Plaza, and Fordham Road.