The monopoly token retired in 2013 was the iron — the flat, clothes-shaped playing piece that had sat on boards since 1935. Hasbro announced its retirement after a public Facebook vote, where more than 10 million players weighed in on which piece should go. The iron lost, and the cat won its spot.
Many fans today still search for which token left, why it happened, and what it means for collectors. That confusion is real: online auctions, family boards, and replacement piece sets all mix decades of tokens together. This guide covers the five facts you need, from the vote itself to how the change affects the value of your old set.
You will also learn how to verify which era your Monopoly board belongs to.
Which Monopoly Token Left the Board in 2013?
The iron was the monopoly token retired in 2013, ending a run that began with the game's first Parker Brothers edition in 1935. Hasbro confirmed the result of its "Save Your Token" vote in February 2013, and the cat officially replaced the iron later that year.
Understanding the monopoly token retired in 2013 helps collectors identify exactly when their board transitioned from one era to the next.
The vote ran on Facebook in early 2013. Players chose from a shortlist of new candidates — a cat, a diamond ring, a guitar, a helicopter, and a robot — while also voting on which classic token to remove.
According to Hasbro's announcement, more than 10 million votes were cast worldwide, making it one of the largest brand votes in the company's history at the time. The monopoly token retired in 2013 became a global talking point almost overnight.
The cat won decisively enough that Hasbro moved forward with the swap for 2013 editions. If you want to check token histories yourself, BoardGameGeek maintains detailed edition records and community photos of every token lineup by year.
How to apply this: Look at the token list stamped inside the lid of an older Monopoly box — if the iron appears there but not in the tray, you likely own a pre-2013 edition.
Why Did Hasbro Retire the Iron Token?
Hasbro retired the iron because players voted it out, plain and simple. The company framed the campaign as a way to let fans modernize the game, and the iron finished last among the six classic tokens in fan support. The monopoly token retired in 2013 reflected a broader shift toward interactive brand decisions driven by social media engagement.
There was a commercial logic behind the vote, too. Hasbro's publicity team used the campaign to generate headlines across news outlets and social media in the months leading up to the replacement's debut. The gamble worked: coverage of the vote appeared in major outlets worldwide, and the new cat token got its own launch spotlight.
Hasbro has repeated this playbook since — in 2017, it retired both the thimble and the boot in a follow-up vote, replacing them with a T-Rex and a rubber duck.
As Hasbro explained when announcing the results, the campaign was designed to let "fans decide which token stays and which token goes" — a direct quote from the company's official vote announcement. The monopoly token retired in 2013 set a precedent that shaped how the company approached future lineup changes.
How to apply this: If you see a Monopoly set with a thimble or boot missing, do not assume damage — check the copyright year, because post-2017 editions dropped those pieces too.
What Was the Iron's History Before Its Retirement?
The iron was one of the original tokens from the 1935 first edition, alongside the top hat, thimble, boot, battleship, cannon, and others. Its design reflected everyday household life of the 1930s, when laundry was done with heavy flat irons heated on a stove.
The monopoly token retired in 2013 had therefore been part of the game for nearly eight decades before its departure.
The token survived eighty years of board redesigns, special editions, and international versions. Collectors often track which pieces appeared in which era, because token lineups changed quietly over the years. Resources like The Strong National Museum of Play hold original Monopoly materials and document the game's design history for researchers and fans.
Knowing the full backstory of the monopoly token retired in 2013 makes it easier to appreciate why its removal felt significant to longtime players.
| Token | Status | Year | Action to take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | Retired | 2013 | Check if your set is pre-2013 |
| Cat | Added | 2013 | Common in modern sets |
| Thimble | Retired | 2017 | Adds value to old sets |
| Boot | Retired | 2017 | Adds value to old sets |
| T-Rex & Duck | Added | 2017 | Standard in new sets |
| Top Hat, Dog, Racecar | Active | — | Still in current editions |
How to apply this: Use the table above to date any Monopoly set in your closet in under a minute.
How Did the 2013 Token Vote Actually Work?
The vote was a two-part public campaign hosted on Facebook. First, fans selected which classic token to save and, implicitly, which to sacrifice. Then they picked a replacement from five new designs Hasbro proposed. The monopoly token retired in 2013 was chosen through this exact two-stage process, which made the outcome feel democratic to participants.
The winning cat design beat the diamond ring, guitar, helicopter, and robot. Hasbro announced the result in February 2013 and rolled the cat into standard editions the same year. Because the campaign lived on social media, its reach was global — fans outside the United States voted too, which Hasbro cited when describing the multimillion-vote total.
The scale of participation surrounding the monopoly token retired in 2013 demonstrated how much emotional attachment players had to even the smallest game components.
The process was not without critics. Some longtime players argued the vote favored novelty over tradition, while others simply enjoyed having a say. Either way, it set a precedent Hasbro reused in 2017.
How to apply this: If you want a say in future token changes, follow Hasbro's official Monopoly channels, where fan votes and polls are announced first.
Does the Retired Iron Token Have Collector Value Today?
Yes — but modestly, and condition matters far more than scarcity. Because the iron appeared in millions of sets over nearly 80 years, loose irons are common and typically sell for just a few dollars on auction sites. Complete vintage sets from the 1930s to 1950s command far higher prices than any single token.
The monopoly token retired in 2013 is not rare enough on its own to drive significant value.
What raises value:
- Original first-edition (1935) sets with the iron and other early tokens intact
- Complete token rosters — a set missing one piece loses most of its appeal to collectors
- Pre-2013 sealed boxes, which preserve the final iron-era lineup
A common scenario: someone finds a 1970s Monopoly box and assumes the retired iron makes it valuable. In reality, that era was produced in huge quantities, so the box's condition and completeness matter more. Check sold listings on eBay for your specific edition year before assuming anything.
Understanding the monopoly token retired in 2013 in context helps you avoid overpaying for ordinary pieces marketed as collectibles.
How to apply this: Photograph your tokens and box, then compare against completed listings on eBay to get a realistic price range before selling.
Frequently Asked Questions About monopoly token retired in 2013
What token replaced the iron after the 2013 vote?
The cat replaced the iron, winning against four other candidates. It debuted in standard Monopoly editions released later in 2013.
If you buy a new board today, the cat is part of the standard lineup — a detail worth confirming when you purchase replacement tokens so the monopoly token retired in 2013 does not get accidentally mixed into a modern set.
Are there special editions that still include the iron?
Yes. Some collector and anniversary editions have reissued classic token lineups, and licensed or retro-styled sets sometimes include the iron deliberately. Specialty retailers and BoardGameGeek marketplace listings are good places to find them, since general stores rarely stock token-specific editions. These sets intentionally include the monopoly token retired in 2013 as a nostalgic feature.
Why was the iron chosen for retirement instead of other tokens?
It simply received the fewest fan votes during the campaign. Hasbro did not report detailed per-token totals, so we know the outcome, not the margins. Some collectors believe younger voters had less attachment to a laundry-themed piece, but that remains speculation rather than a documented reason.
The monopoly token retired in 2013 may have suffered from being less visually distinctive than competitors like the top hat or battleship.
Can I buy a replacement iron token for an old set?
Yes. Replacement token sellers on eBay and Etsy offer loose irons regularly, and Hasbro's official parts department has historically handled missing-piece requests for some editions. Match the metal finish and size to your edition — older die-cast irons differ from later plastic-coated versions.
Sellers often list pieces using the phrase monopoly token retired in 2013 to attract buyers searching for the iron specifically.
How do I date a Monopoly box using its tokens?
Token lineups act like a rough timeline. An iron but no cat means pre-2013; an iron plus thimble and boot means pre-2017 with the iron intact. Combine that with the copyright date printed on the box or rulebook for a precise year.
This matters if you are verifying whether the monopoly token retired in 2013 should be present in your edition.
Is the iron token still made anywhere today?
Some third-party manufacturers produce replacement irons, and certain international or licensed editions may still include it. However, the standard Hasbro lineup no longer features the monopoly token retired in 2013, so any iron you find in a new retail set likely comes from a specialty reissue rather than the main production run.
Conclusion: What the Iron's Retirement Teaches Monopoly Fans
The monopoly token retired in 2013 left the board through a fan vote that drew over 10 million participants, marking the first big token change since the game's 1935 debut. Key takeaways:
- The iron was retired and the cat was added after Hasbro's 2013 Facebook vote
- The thimble and boot followed in 2017, replaced by the T-Rex and rubber duck
- Token lineups are the fastest way to date any Monopoly set you own
- Collector value depends on completeness and edition year, not the iron alone
Your next step: open your Monopoly box tonight, check the token tray against the table above, and note your edition's year. If you are missing pieces, search replacement sellers before the iron-era sets get any harder to complete.
