Monopoly replaces classic tokens with penguin and T-Rex

The new tokens are shown in gold, next to the existing tokens that survived the cut. Picture: APThe new tokens are shown in gold, next to the existing tokens that survived the cut. Picture: AP
The new tokens are shown in gold, next to the existing tokens that survived the cut. Picture: AP
The boot has been booted, the wheelbarrow has been wheeled out, and the thimble got the thumbs down in the latest version of the board game Monopoly.

In their place will be a Tyrannosaurus rex, a penguin and a rubber ducky.

More than 4.3 million voters from 146 countries weighed in on which tokens they wanted to see in future versions of the property-acquisition game, which is based on the real-life streets of Atlantic City.

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Rhode Island-based Hasbro announced the winners on Friday morning.

A penguin is one of the three new tokens replacing the boot, the wheelbarrow and thimble. Picture: APA penguin is one of the three new tokens replacing the boot, the wheelbarrow and thimble. Picture: AP
A penguin is one of the three new tokens replacing the boot, the wheelbarrow and thimble. Picture: AP

Jonathan Berkowitz, Hasbro’s senior vice president of marketing, grew up playing the game with his family.

“While I’m sad to see the iconic thimble, boot, and wheelbarrow tokens go, it will be fun to have some new, fan-sourced tokens in the mix,” he said.

“Personally, I’ve always especially liked the boot token, but I’m excited to move onto the T-Rex.”

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There were 64 contenders, including a winking emoji, a hashtag, a 1980s-style mobile phone and a pair of bunny slippers.

In comes a Tyrannosaurus Rex, out goes the thimble. Picture: APIn comes a Tyrannosaurus Rex, out goes the thimble. Picture: AP
In comes a Tyrannosaurus Rex, out goes the thimble. Picture: AP

The existing Scottish Terrier, battleship, racecar, top hat and cat tokens will carry on.

The Scottie was top dog in the competition, leading all contenders with 212,476 votes.

The T. rex was second with 207,954, and the hat was third with 167,582.

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The car was fourth with 165,083; the ducky was fifth with 160,485; the cat was sixth with 154,165; the penguin waddled into seventh place with 146,661; and the battleship made the final cut with 134,704 votes.

A rubber ducky is one of the three new tokens. Picture: APA rubber ducky is one of the three new tokens. Picture: AP
A rubber ducky is one of the three new tokens. Picture: AP

The closest unsuccessful candidate was the tortoise, which fell nearly 5,700 votes short.

A welly boot got the least support, with 7,239 votes.

The next version of the game will go on sale with the new tokens in the fall.

The board game was ‘born’ on March 19, 1935, when Parker Brothers acquired the rights to it.

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A penguin is one of the three new tokens replacing the boot, the wheelbarrow and thimble. Picture: APA penguin is one of the three new tokens replacing the boot, the wheelbarrow and thimble. Picture: AP
A penguin is one of the three new tokens replacing the boot, the wheelbarrow and thimble. Picture: AP

In the decades since, an estimated 1 billion people have weighed the merits of buying up utilities and railroads or trying to hit it big with Boardwalk hotels.

The original 10 tokens were an iron, purse, lantern, racecar, thimble, shoe, top hat, battleship, cannon and a rocking horse.

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