The Themed MetroCard: Collectible Items
New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) issues farecards called MetroCards. The MTA has frequently included pictures on the pass to commemorate special events. The limited-edition NYC MetroCard collections were very well received by both commuters and collectors.
NYC MetroCard collections available on eBayEach limited-edition collection is centered around a specific theme, such as the "Game of Thrones" TV show. Typically 200,000 to 300,000 cards are printed in each NYC MetroCard collection. Given that the annual ridership of the MTA is 1.7 billion, this is an extremely limited production run. Generally, the cards are only available at certain stations, and they frequently sell out quickly. Many of these preowned MetroCards have been used by commuters but are still of value as collector's items. Consequently, almost all MetroCards for sale are used or expired and cannot be used for travel. However, their value comes from the artwork celebrating the theme.
The David Bowie MetroCard collectionIn 2018, the NYC MTA released the five-card Bowie MetroCard collection in honor of the iconic rockstar David Bowie. Each card featured a different picture of Bowie, a long-time New York resident himself, dressed as one of his different personas used in his music. This set included Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane, among others. The limited-edition run was for 250,000 cards only, and they sold out quickly. David Bowie MetroCards can be found either as single cards or as a complete five-card set.
The "Game of Thrones" MetroCard collectionAnother 250,000 card production run, the "Game of Thrones" MetroCards were released in December 2018. The four-card collection featured John Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister, and the Night King. You could only buy them at Grand Central Station, which also featured over 150 poster ads for the show.
If you missed out on this event, you can find many eBay "Game of Thrones" MetroCard options. The "Game of Thrones" MetroCard eBay listings include both single cards and complete collections. Again, most cards were used by commuters, so you should check the item descriptions carefully for the condition.
What other NYC MetroCards can you collect?The MTA has released many limited editions over the last decade. While the David Bowie and "Game of Thrones" collections are very collectible, other collections might be more appealing to you.
Some notable themes include:
- Desus and Mero MetroCard, featuring the New York comedians
- Fortnite MetroCard, a single card with the Fortnite logo
- Seinfeld Collection, four cards featuring iconic images from the show
- 9/11 memorial collection, four cards showcasing first responders