After being discontinued, New York City MetroCards are earning resellers thousands of dollars.
On Wednesday (Dec. 31), the physical MetroCard was officially retired from the New York City subway after three decades. Its yellow and blue design had become a symbol of the Big Apple, and anyone could get the card for $1.
Now, just a few days into the new year, these cards are being listed in online sales as keepsakes. And it appears people are willing to pay much more than they would have paid for them last year, with one eBay listing for a 2024 card reaching $3,500.
“The NYC Subway Metrocard for the year 2025 holds no monetary value on the card but serves as a collectible item for transportation enthusiasts,” reads the eBay description of the card. “This MetroCard allows users to travel on the subway system and collect unique designs and artwork from each year, making it a special keepsake for those who ride the subway regularly.”
Other people aren’t selling their MetroCards for that much, but they’re still hoping to make a pretty penny on them. One seller, Richard Usowicz, to the New York Post why he listed his sale for $155.
“I heard all the news and hubbub about the MetroCard going out of print, and anything that is no longer available, it’s a supply and demand thing,” said Usowicz. “A lot of times in the collectible market, most people are really kind of searching for nostalgia. A large majority of my customers are millennial, Gen Z, and we all want to kind of touch upon a time where things were simpler.”
According to transit officials, riders will be able to use their MetroCards that have remaining value until June.
