The monopoly token retired in 2017 was the thimble, and Hasbro made that call after a worldwide fan vote that drew millions of participants. That tiny sewing accessory had survived more than 80 years of play before it was benched.
If you have ever opened an old game box and wondered whether a piece is still "official," the answer is more complicated than it looks. Token changes affect collector value, replacement parts, and even how modern rulebooks describe gameplay.
This guide breaks down what actually happened, why the thimble lost, and how to tell whether a piece in your collection is original, a later replacement, or a modern reissue.
What the monopoly token retired in 2017 Actually Changed
The short answer: Hasbro removed the thimble and replaced it with the T-Rex after an online vote that also put the boot and wheelbarrow on the chopping block. The company framed the change as a fan-driven refresh of a game that had not updated its lineup in years.
Here is the sequence as Hasbro described it publicly:
- The brand ran a "Token Madness" vote in early 2017 with a slate of classic pieces and new candidates.
- Fans worldwide cast ballots online, and the thimble received the fewest votes among the classics.
- Hasbro announced the thimble's retirement in February 2017 and confirmed the T-Rex as its replacement.
- New production runs shipped with the T-Rex, while older stock stayed on shelves for a while.
The practical wrinkle is that retail inventory lags announcements. For months after the news, buyers could still find thimbles in sealed games, which created confusion about whether the change was real. Hasbro's own brand messaging confirmed it: the company stated the thimble was "retiring" after decades of service, a line widely covered by outlets like Reuters.
One collector scenario illustrates the confusion well: a buyer picks up a discounted 2016-print game and assumes the thimble inside proves the retirement never happened. It doesn't. It just proves the box was manufactured before the switch.
How to apply this: check the copyright year printed on the box flap or rulebook footer before assuming a token's status.
Hasbro removed the thimble and added a T-Rex after an online vote, so the monopoly token retired in 2017 was part of a fan-driven shake-up. The boot and wheelbarrow also faced elimination, but the monopoly token retired in 2017 was the one that actually left the board.
The monopoly token retired in 2017 got a small nostalgia bump, yet it never became genuinely rare because supply stayed deep. What really shifted for the monopoly token retired in 2017 was its story, not its scarcity.
Why the Thimble Lost the Vote and What It Signals
The thimble's defeat was less about the piece itself and more about how modern players engage with the game. Voting data shared by Hasbro showed heavy participation from younger players and animal-themed picks, which favored the T-Rex.
A few patterns stand out from that campaign:
- Novelty beats nostalgia in open votes, because new candidates generate more sharing and discussion.
- Animal tokens consistently outperform household objects in fan polls, a trend Hasbro leaned into with later editions.
- The boot and wheelbarrow survived that round but were eventually retired in later lineup changes, showing the process is ongoing.
This matters if you are trying to date a set or explain a gap in a collection. A missing thimble from a 2018 box is not a manufacturing error; it reflects the post-retirement lineup. Conversely, a thimble in a 2019 box would be unusual and worth a closer look at the packaging.
The monopoly token retired in 2017 story also illustrates a broader truth about board game collecting: production dates and design dates rarely match. Always verify against the physical game, not the marketing timeline.
How to apply this: photograph the box copyright year and the token tray together so you have a dated record of any set you buy or sell.
How to Identify an Original Thimble vs. a Replacement
Original thimbles are die-cast metal with a distinct weight and a slightly textured dimple pattern. Modern replacement pieces sold by third parties are often lighter, smoother, or cast in a different alloy.
Use this comparison to sort out what you are holding:
| Feature | Original-era thimble | Later replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Noticeably heavier in hand | Light, sometimes hollow-feeling |
| Surface | Fine dimple texture, slightly matte | Smoother or glossier finish |
| Base rim | Clean, even edge | Often thicker or uneven |
| Markings | Consistent with era's casting | May show modern mold lines |
| What to check | Compare against a known original | Weigh it on a kitchen scale |
Be cautious with online listings. Many sellers label any thimble as "vintage," and the monopoly token retired in 2017 news made those listings more common, not less. A scale reading and a close-up of the base rim will tell you more than any description.
For authentication help, collector forums and the BoardGameGeek community maintain photo threads comparing casting details across decades.
How to apply this: weigh your thimble and photograph the base rim before listing or insuring it.
Does the Retirement Affect Gameplay or Rules?
No. The retirement changed the physical pieces, not the mechanics. The rulebook still describes the same movement, property, and trading systems, and the number of tokens per box stayed the same.
That said, a few practical details trip people up:
- Token count stays constant, so a post-2017 box still ships with the standard number of player pieces.
- Rulebooks may list token names, so a 2018 rulebook will reference the T-Rex instead of the thimble.
- Older rulebooks remain valid for play; nothing about the thimble's absence changes how turns work.
If you run a game night and someone insists the thimble is required, you can settle it quickly: any token works as a marker. The monopoly token retired in 2017 decision was cosmetic, and Hasbro never tied gameplay to specific pieces.
A common scenario: a family mixes tokens from two different boxes, then worries the set is "incomplete." It isn't. Mixed tokens are normal and have no effect on play balance.
How to apply this: print a one-page token inventory for your box so future buyers or players know exactly what should be inside.
Collector Value: What the Retirement Actually Did to Prices
The retirement gave the thimble a small nostalgia bump, but it did not turn it into a rare item. Millions of thimbles were produced over eight decades, so supply remains deep.
What changed is narrative value. A thimble now carries a story ("the piece they retired"), which helps sellers in bundle listings and display sets. Loose thimbles still sell cheaply, and sealed pre-2017 games command only modest premiums over later prints.
A few realistic expectations:
- Loose thimbles are common and inexpensive; do not pay a premium for a single piece.
- Sealed games from before the switch appeal to completists, not speculators.
- Complete vintage sets with original boxes hold value for reasons unrelated to the token change.
If you want to track what people actually pay, check sold listings on eBay rather than active asking prices. Asking prices are aspirational; sold prices are data.
How to apply this: search sold listings for "thimble token" and note the median price before you buy or sell.
No, you generally cannot buy the monopoly token retired in 2017 as a new official Hasbro part. Third-party replacement thimbles exist, but the monopoly token retired in 2017 is only available as an aftermarket piece.
Not necessarily, since the monopoly token retired in 2017 could linger in retail stock or get mixed between boxes by sellers. A thimble in a box dated shortly after the monopoly token retired in 2017 is plausible if the game sat in a warehouse.
Frequently Asked Questions About monopoly token retired in 2017
What replaced the thimble in the standard game?
The T-Rex replaced it after the 2017 fan vote. Hasbro selected the dinosaur from a slate of new candidates, and new production runs shipped with it. If you open a box made after the switch and find a T-Rex, that is expected. The monopoly token retired in 2017 change is reflected in the token tray, not the rulebook mechanics.
Can I still buy an official thimble separately?
Generally no, not as a new official part from Hasbro. Third-party sellers offer replacement thimbles, but these are aftermarket pieces, not brand-new originals. If you need one for play, any small marker works. Collectors seeking originals should buy from estate sales or vintage game lots and verify casting details before paying.
Generally no, you cannot buy a new official thimble from Hasbro since the monopoly token retired in 2017.
Third-party sellers offer replacement thimbles, but these aftermarket pieces are not brand-new originals from the monopoly token retired in 2017.
Did any other tokens get retired around the same time?
Yes, later lineup changes removed other classics, including the boot, wheelbarrow, and iron across different editions. These happened on separate timelines, so do not assume one announcement covered them all. When dating a set, check each token against the box year. The monopoly token retired in 2017 event was specifically the thimble's exit.
Is a thimble in a newer box a sign of a fake?
Not necessarily. Retail stock lingers, and some sellers mix pieces between boxes. A thimble in a box dated a year or two after the announcement is plausible if the game sat in a warehouse. A thimble in a clearly recent print is worth scrutinizing, but it is not automatic proof of tampering.
Not necessarily, because retail stock lingers and some sellers mix pieces after the monopoly token retired in 2017.
A thimble in a box dated a year or two later is plausible if the game sat in a warehouse after the monopoly token retired in 2017.
Does the retirement change what my old set is worth?
Only marginally. Rarity drives value, and thimbles are not rare. What helps is completeness and condition: original box, intact tokens, and clean cards. A well-kept pre-2017 set with the thimble is more appealing to buyers than a loose piece, but the monopoly token retired in 2017 news alone won't multiply its price.
Conclusion
The thimble's exit was a fan-vote decision, not a rarity event, and that distinction shapes everything about how you buy, sell, or play with these pieces.
- The monopoly token retired in 2017 was the thimble, replaced by the T-Rex after an online vote.
- Gameplay and token counts never changed; only the piece lineup did.
- Loose thimbles are common and cheap, so verify casting details before paying a premium.
- Box copyright years tell you more than seller descriptions ever will.
Your next step: pull out your set, note the box year, and weigh the thimble if you have one. That five-minute check gives you a real answer about what you own.
