Chuck E. Cheese Tokens

Updated 12/18/24

1977-1982
1983-1990
1990-2006
1995-2012
2013-2023
Cities
Other CEC Designs
CEC Related tokens
Not Tokens
Foreign

Click on a picture to jump to that section, or scoll down for full list.

Chuck E Cheese Token Collectors - "The Premier website of CEC, SPP, PPP, Pistol Pete's and Discovery Zone Tokens and Tickets". Another listing of CEC tokens, similar to mine but has some additional information, and rarity/pricing information. Also includes a lot of minor varieties that I'm omitting.

Latest Major Updates:

Tokens from Chuck E. Cheese (CEC) arcades are frequently encountered by collectors, and make an interesting collection because they are one of the few modern arcade tokens which are dated. In addition, both "generic" tokens and tokens which were labeled with the city of issue were produced in the first few years. The additional variations in design, size, and metal makes this a challenging series to complete. Below is a list of the CEC tokens that I am aware of from Smith and Alpert's book (and supplement), my own collection, and information from other collectors. This list is surely incomplete, and I would welcome reports of any CEC tokens not included. You can contact me at: pineconeforge@gmail.com

Company History Main token designs
Close-ups of minor design changes values of CEC tokens, and where to get them
List of Showbiz arcade tokens links to CEC related sites
About this list, information on abbreviations.


First Design, Obverse
First Design, Reverse "Play Value"
First Design, Reverse "Play"
First Design, Reverse "Value"

"Generic" CEC Tokens - Old Rat Head (1977-1982)
Pizza Time Theatre/In Pizza We Trust
(tokens that include city/state are listed separately below)

Year Size Metal CA 910 Source Notes
1977 25mm GB PIZ Alpert "Pizzatime Theatre Chuck E Cheese", Value
1977 25mm GBz *** Report Value
1977 25mm NB *** Report Value
1978 25mm Bz PJB Alpert Pizzatime, Value
1978 25mm NB *** Report Value
1979 25mm Bz PJD Alpert Pizzatime, Value
1979 25mm NB *** eBay
1980 25mm B PJF Alpert "Pizza Time", Play Value
1980 25mm CZ? *** Report
1980 25mm Zinc *** Report
1980 25mm NB *** eBay Play Value
1981 25mm B PJH Alpert "Play Value", "Pizza Time", with (C)
1981 25mm B *** FS "Play Value", "Pizza Time", no (C)
1981 25mm B PJT Suppl "Pizzatime"
1981 25mm B PJR Alpert "Value" "Pizza Time"
1981 25mm B PJU Alpert pilgrim hat mintmark, Pizzatime, Play Value
1981 25mm NB *** Report no mintmark, "Play Value", "Pizza Time", with (C)
1981 25mm NB *** Report "Play Value", "Pizza Time", no (C)
1981 25mm NB *** Report "Pizzatime"
1981 25mm NB *** Report "Value" "Pizza Time"
1981 25mm NB *** eBay pilgrim hat mintmark, Pizzatime, "Chuck E. Cheese's"
1981 25mm B *** FS 3-D rat head (varieties)
1981 25mm Bz *** Report 3-D rat head (solid bronze, not just plated)
1981 25mm CB *** Report 3-D rat head
1981 25mm NB *** Report 3-D rat head
1981 25mm CZ? *** Report
1981 25mm Zinc *** Report "Value" "Pizza Time"
1982 22mm B PJN FS listed as 23mm by Alpert
1982 22mm NB PJO Report listed as 23mm by Alpert
1982 23mm B *** FS *error* probably 25mm token struck on 22mm planchet
1982 25mm B PJJ Alpert "Pizza Time" "Play Value"
1982 25mm B PJV Suppl "Pizzatime"
1982 25mm B PKA Alpert

"Hav Pizza", Pizza Time, Play Value

1982 25mm B *** Report no circle around "C"
1982 25mm NB PJK Alpert "Chuck E. Cheese"
1982 25mm B *** Report "Chuck E. Cheese's" (short whiskers)
1982 25mm NB *** eBay "Chuck E. Cheese's" (short whiskers)
1982 25mm NB *** Report "Hav Pizza", Pizza Time
1982 25mm NB *** Report no circle around "C"
1982 25mm CZ *** Report  
1982 25mm Zinc *** Report

Second Design, Obverse
Second Design, Reverse

Adult Mouse Head I (1983-1990)
Smile America Say Chuck E. Cheese/In Pizza We Trust

1983 23mm B CHT Suppl
1983 23mm NB *** Report
1983 25mm B CHU Alpert
1983 25mm CZ CZD Suppl Pattern
1983 25mm NB *** eBay
1983 25mm zinc *** Report weighs 5g, brass tokens weigh 5.6g
1984 25mm B CHV Suppl
1984 25mm B *** Report "no dots under date"
1984 25mm NB *** FS
1984 25mm CZ *** Report  
1985 25mm B CHW Suppl (supplement lists as "1984", typo?)
1985 25mm CZ CZH Suppl Pattern
1985 25mm NB CHX Suppl
1986 25mm B CHY Suppl no mintmark
1986 25mm B CHYa Suppl RWM mintmark above '25' on reverse
1986 25mm B CHYb Suppl OC mintmark below '6' of date
1986 25mm zinc *** eBay token in scan is dark, can't confirm metal
1987 25mm B CHZb Suppl no mintmark
1987 25mm B CHZa Suppl RWM mintmark above '25' on reverse
1987 25mm NB *** eBay no mintmark
1988 23mm B *** Report 25mm design struck on 23mm planchet in error. Picture
1988 25mm B CIA Suppl
1988 25mm NB *** Report
1989 25mm B CIC Suppl
1989 25mm CZ CZP Suppl Pattern
1989 25mm NB *** FS
1990 25mm B CID Suppl
1990 25mm CZ CZR Suppl Pattern
1990 25mm NB *** FS

Third Design, Reverse usually the same, except for a few varieties

Adult Mouse Head II (1990-2006)
Where a Kid Can Be a Kid (reverse same unless noted) [varieties]

1990 25mm B CIG Suppl "Where a Kid"/CEC logo
1990 25mm NB? *** Report "Where a Kid"/CEC logo
1990 25mm B TX 225 SIR Suppl "Where a Kid"/Showbiz Pizza logo
1990 25mm cu TX 225 *** Report "Where a Kid"/Showbiz Pizza logo
1990 25mm NZ TX 225 SIS Suppl "Where a Kid"/Showbiz Pizza logo
1990 25mm NZ TX 225 SIT Suppl "Where a Kid"/Showbiz Pizza logo (pink)
1990 25mm zinc TX 225 *** Report "Where a Kid"/Showbiz Pizza logo
1990 25mm B CIJ Suppl Where a Kid/(same)
1990 25mm CZ CZT Suppl Where a Kid../(same) Pattern
1990 25mm NZ CIH Suppl
1990 25mm NZ CIH Suppl (pink)
1990? ? ? *** eBay CEC in banner/Jester head (eBay Sept 2012)
1991 25mm B CIK Suppl
1991 25mm CZ CZU Suppl Pattern
1991 25mm NZ CIL Suppl
1991 25mm NZ CIM Suppl pink
1992 22.5mm B *** FS 0.900 inch
1992 22.5mm NB *** Report 0.900 inch
1992 25mm B CIN Suppl
1992 25mm CZ *** FS
1992 25mm NZ CIO Suppl
1992 25mm NZ CIP Suppl pink
1993 22.5mm B *** Report 0.900 inch
1993 22.5mm NB *** Report 0.900 inch
1993 25mm B CIQ Suppl
1993 25mm CZ *** FS
1993 25mm NZ? *** FS
1993 25mm NZ? *** FS pink
1994 22.5mm B *** FS 0.900 inch
1994 22.5mm NB *** Report 0.900 inch
1994 25mm B *** FS
1994 25mm CB *** FS
1994 25mm NZ? *** FS
1995 25mm B *** FS
1995 25mm CB *** FS
1995 25mm NZ? *** FS
1996 25mm B *** FS
1996 25mm NB? *** Report
1997 25mm B *** FS
1997 25mm NB? *** Report
1998 25mm B *** FS
1998 25mm NB? *** Report
1999 25mm B *** FS
1999 25mm NB? *** Report
2000 25mm B *** FS
2000 25mm NB? *** Report
2001 25mm B *** FS
2002 25mm B *** FS
2003 25mm B *** FS
2004 25mm B *** FS
2005 25mm B *** FS
2005 25mm NB *** eBay
2006 25mm B *** FS
2006 25mm WM *** eBay

Fourth Design, cap blank, TM
1995-2000
Fourth Design, "C" on cap
2001-2013

Juvenile Head< (1995-2013?)
Where a Kid Can Be a Kid/(same)

1995 25mm B *** FS
1995 25mm CB? *** FS
1995 25mm NB *** Report
1996 25mm B *** FS
1996 25mm CB *** FS
1996 25mm NB *** Report
1997 25mm B *** FS
1997 25mm CB *** FS
1997 25mm NB *** Report
1998 25mm B *** FS
1998 25mm CB *** FS
1998 25mm NB *** Report
1998 25mm B *** Report Black Chromate coating (used in KY)
1999 25mm B *** FS
1999 25mm CB *** FS
1999 25mm NB *** FS
1999 25mm B *** Report Black Chromate coating (used in KY)
2000 25mm B *** FS
2000 25mm CB *** FS
2000 25mm NB *** eBay
2000 25mm B *** FS Black Chromate, 5.4 g(employee token, Brownsville, TX)
2001 25mm B *** FS C on Cap
2001 25mm CB *** FS C on Cap
2001 25mm B *** FS Black Chromate (employee token, San Antonio, TX)
2002 25mm B *** FS C on Cap
2002 25mm CB *** FS

C on Cap

2002 25mm B *** FS C on Cap Black Chromate
2003 25mm B *** FS C on Cap
2003 25mm CB *** FS C on Cap
2003 25mm B *** FS C on Cap Black Chromate
2004 25mm B *** FS C on Cap
2004 25mm CB *** FS C on Cap
2004 25mm B *** FS

C on Cap Black Chromate

2005 25mm B *** FS

C on Cap

2005 25mm B *** FS

C on Cap Black Chromate

2005 25mm CB *** Report

C on Cap

2006 25mm B *** FS

C on Cap

2006 25mm CB *** FS

C on Cap

2006 25mm B? *** eBay C on Cap, Black Chromate
2006 25mm Bz *** Report

with Z

2007 25mm B *** FS

C on Cap

2007 25mm CB *** Report

C on Cap?

2007 25mm B(I)? *** Joe L magnetic, error?
2008 25mm B *** FS

C on Cap

2008 25mm CB *** eBay

C on Cap

2009 20mm B *** FS C on Cap Saudi Arabia?
2009 25mm B *** FS

C on Cap

2009 25mm CB *** eBay C on Cap
2010 25mm B *** FS

C on Cap

2011 25mm B *** FS

C on Cap

2012 25mm B *** FS

C on Cap

2012 25mm B(I)? *** eBay Magnetic - brass plated iron? Probably error or trial piece
2013 25mm B *** Report  
           

Fifth Design, Obverse
Fifth Design, Reverse

"Chuck E. Rocks" Baby Rat (2013-2023)
After 2016 most games were converted to cards, but CEC has ordered new tokens a few times since then, in smaller quantities.

2013 25mm B *** FS

 

2014 25mm B *** FS

 

2014 25mm NB *** report  
2014 20mm B *** eBay, used in Saudi Arabia?  
2015 25mm B *** FS

 

2015 25mm NB *** report  
2016 25mm B *** FS  
2016 20mm B *** report, Saudi Arabia?

 

2017 25mm B *** FS  
2017 25mm NB *** report  
2018 25mm B *** FS  
2023 25mm B *** FS  
2024 25mm B *** eBay

 

After 2016 CEC converted their games to cards and I thought they had stopped using tokens. I recently spoke with some CEC employees and while most of them didn't know much about the tokens, one of them told me that there are still a few games that use tokens at some CEC locations. He said they are mainly reusing old tokens, but when the supply gets too low, they need to order more, in smaller quantities that before. The CEC in north Spokane has a "rolling coin" game where you scan your card to get the machine to dispense a token, which you can then play.

(summer 2024) there seem to be a couple of the 2018 and 2023 CEC tokens on eBay at any given time, but the 2017 only shows up now and then.


Listing of CEC Tokens with Cities

Note: some tokens whose existance has not been confirmed are listed here.

State City Size Metal Year Alpert ID Source Notes
AL Mobile 25mm B 1981 AL 560 PIZ Alpert Play Value
AL Mobile 25mm NB 1981 AL 560 *** Report Play Value
AL Mobile 25mm B 1981 AL 560 *** Report Value
AL Mobile 25mm NB 1981 AL 560 *** Report Value
AZ Tucson 25mm B 1980 AZ 840 PIZ Alpert "Play", 3 dots each side of town
AZ Tucson 25mm B 1980 AZ 840 PIZ Alpert "Play", 4 dots each side of town
AZ Tucson 25mm B 1980 AZ 840 PJA Alpert Play Value
AZ Tucson 25mm B 1981 AZ 840 PJB Alpert Play Value
AZ Tucson 25mm NB 1981 AZ 840 *** Report  
CA Citrus Heights 25mm B 1981 CA 160 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA Citrus Heights 25mm NB 1981 CA 160 *** Report
CA Citrus Heights 25mm Zinc 1981 CA 160 *** Report  
CA Concord 25mm B 1979 CA 175 *** Report Play
CA Concord 25mm Bz 1979 CA 175 PIZ Alpert Value
CA Concord 25mm Bz 1979 CA 175 PJA Alpert Play
CA Concord 25mm NB 1979 CA 175 *** FS "Pizza Time", Value
CA Concord 25mm Bz 1981 CA 175 PJC Alpert Play Value
CA Concord 25mm B 1981 CA 175 *** Report Play Value
CA Concord 25mm Zinc 1981 CA 175 *** Report
CA Fremont 25mm B 1980 CA 295 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA Fremont 25mm NB 1980 CA 295 *** Report Play Value
CA Fremont 25mm B 1981 CA 295 PJA Alpert Play Value
CA Fremont 25mm NB 1981 CA 295 *** Report Play Value
CA Fresno 25mm B 1980 CA 300 PIZ Alpert Play (varieties)
CA Fullerton 25mm B 1981 CA 305 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA Fullerton 25mm NB 1981 CA 305 *** Report  
CA Garden Grove 25mm B 1981 CA 312 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA Hayward 25mm B 1981 CA 362 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA Hayward 25mm NB 1981 CA 362 *** eBay Play Value
CA Huntington Beach 25mm B 1979 CA 380 PIZ Alpert Play, wide spacing of town name
CA Huntington Beach 25mm B 1979 CA 380 PIZ Alpert Play, close spacing of town name
CA Huntington Beach 25mm NB 1979 CA 380 *** eBay Play
CA Huntington Beach 25mm B 1981 CA 380 PJA Alpert Play Value
CA Huntington Beach 25mm NB 1981 CA 380 *** Alpert  
CA Lake Forest 25mm B 1981 CA 428 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA Long Beach 25mm B 1980 CA 445 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA Modesto 25mm B 1981 CA 515 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA Modesto 25mm Zinc 1981 CA 515 *** Report Play Value (weight confirms zinc, not just plated)
CA Modesto 25mm NB 1981 CA 515 *** eBay Play Value
CA Modesto 25mm CZ 1981 CA 515 *** Report Play Value
CA Pinole 25mm B 1981 CA 642 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA Pinole 25mm NB 1981 CA 642 *** Report Play Value
CA Sacramento 25mm B 1979 CA 715 PIZ Alpert Play
CA Sacramento 25mm NB 1979 CA 715 *** Report  
CA Sacramento 25mm B 1981 CA 715 PJB Alpert Play Value
CA Sacramento 25mm NB 1981 CA 715 *** Report  
CA San Diego 25mm B 1981 CA 745 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA San Diego 25mm NB 1981 CA 745 *** eBay Play Value
CA San Jose 25mm GB 1978 CA 775 PIZ Alpert Value
CA San Jose 25mm Bz 1978 CA 775 *** Report
CA San Jose 25mm GBz 1978 CA 775 *** Report gilt bronze
CA San Jose 25mm NB 1978 CA 775 *** eBay Value
CA San Jose 25mm Bz 1979 CA 775 *** Report Value
CA San Jose 25mm B 1979 CA 775 PJC Alpert Play
CA San Jose 25mm NB 1979 CA 775 *** eBay Play
CA San Jose 25mm NB 1979 CA 775 *** Report Value
CA San Jose 25mm B 1981 CA 775 PJE Alpert Play Value
CA San Jose 25mm NB 1981 CA 775 *** Report Play Value
CA San Jose 25mm Zinc 1981 CA 775 *** Report
CA San Jose 25mm CB? 1981 CA 775 *** Report
CA San Ramon 25mm B 1980 CA 805 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA San Ramon 25mm Zinc 1980 CA 805 *** Report
CA San Ramon 25mm NB 1980 CA 805 *** Report
CA San Ramon 25mm CB? 1980 CA 805 *** Report
CA "Santa Anna" 25mm B 1979 CA 810 *** Report Play, Very Rare!
CA Santa Rosa 25mm B 1980 CA 845 PIZ Alpert Play
CA Santa Rosa 25mm NB 1980 CA 845 *** Report Play
CA Simi Valley 25mm B 1980 CA 880 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CA Simi Valley 25mm NB 1980 CA 880 *** Report Play Value
CA Stockton 25mm B 1979 CA 895 PIZ Alpert Play
CA Stockton 25mm Zinc 1979 CA 895 *** Report
CA Stockton 25mm NB 1979 CA 895 *** Report Play
CA Stockton 25mm CB? 1979 CA 895 *** Report
CA Sunnyvale 25mm B 1980 CA 910 PKS Alpert Play Value
CA Sunnyvale 25mm NB 1980 CA 910 *** Report  
CO Westminster 25mm B 1980 CO 925 PIZ Alpert Play Value
CO Westminster 25mm NB 1980 CO 925 *** Report Play Value
FL Clearwater 25mm B 1981 FL 105 PIZ Alpert Play Value
FL Clearwater 25mm NB 1981 FL 105 *** Report Play Value
FL Ft. Myers 25mm B 1981 FL 265 PIZ Alpert Play Value
FL Ft. Myers 25mm NB 1981 FL 265 *** Report Play Value
FL Jacksonville 25mm B 1981 FL 380 PIZ Alpert Play Value
FL Jacksonville 25mm NB 1981 FL 380 *** Report Play Value
FL Winterpark 25mm B 1981 FL 970 PIZ Alpert Play Value
FL Winterpark 25mm NB 1981 FL 970 *** Report Play Value
MI Westland 25mm B 1981 MI 960 PIZ Alpert Play Value
MN Blaine 25mm B 1982 MN 100 PIY Alpert "Pizza Time" (diameter and "Pizza Time" corrected)
MN Blaine 25mm NB 1982 MN 100 PIY Report  
MN Burnsville 25mm B 1982 MN 120 PIY Report "Pizza Time" (diameter and "Pizza Time" corrected)
MN Maplewood 25mm B 1982 MN 520 PIY Report "Pizza Time" (diameter and "Pizza Time" corrected)
MN Maplewood 25mm B 1983 MN 520 PIZ Report "Pizza Time" (diameter and "Pizza Time" corrected)
MN New Hope 25mm B 1981 MN 582 PIY Report "Pizza Time" (diameter and "Pizza Time" corrected)
MN Newhope 25mm B 1982 MN 582 PIZ Report "Pizza Time" (diameter and "Pizza Time" corrected)
(MO/KS) Kansas City 25mm B 1980 MO 440 PIZ Suppl Play (2500 made, used in both locations)
(MO/KS) Kansas City 25mm NB 1980 MO 440 *** report Play (used in both locations)
NV Reno 25mm B 1979 NV 800 PIZ Alpert Play
NV Reno 25mm NB 1979 NB 800 *** Report  
NV Reno-Sparks 25mm B 1980 NV 800 PJC Alpert Play
NV Reno-Sparks 25mm WM 1980 NV 800 *** Report  
NC Raleigh 25mm B 1980 NC 660 PIZ Alpert Play
NC Raleigh 25mm NB 1980 NC 660 *** Report  
OH Maple Heights 25mm B 1980 OH 510 PIZ Alpert Play Value
OH Maple Heights 25mm NB 1980 OH 510 *** Report Play Value
TN Memphis 25mm B 1981 TN 475 PIZ Alpert Value
TN Memphis 25mm NB 1981 TN 475 *** report  
TX Arlington 25mm B 1980 TX 40 PIY Suppl Play Value
UT Ogden 25mm B 1980 UT 525 PIZ Alpert Play (corrected "Play Value" to "Play")
UT Ogden 25mm NB 1980 UT 525 *** Report  
UT Salt Lake City 25mm B 1981 UT 750 PIZ Alpert Play Value
UT Salt Lake City 25mm NB 1981 UT 750 *** Report  
Ontario Burlington 25mm B 1981 ON 165 PIZ Alpert Value
Ontario Burlington 25mm NB 1981 ON 165 *** Report  
Ontario Burlington 25mm B 1982 ON 165 PJB Alpert Play Value
Ontario Burlington 25mm NB 1982 ON 165 *** Report  


First Design, undated, "No Cash Value"

Similar "A La Grace De La Pizza" listed with Foreign below

Size Metal CA 910 Source Notes
22mm B PZA Suppl "No Cash Value" 11mm tall (note: supplement does not distinguish NCV sizes)
22mm B PZA Suppl "No Cash Value" 13mm tall
22mm NB PZB Suppl "No Cash Value" 11mm tall
22mm NB PZB Report "No Cash Value" 13mm tall
25mm B *** Report 25mm size confirmed!


Forth Design, Undated

Size Metal CA 910 Source Notes
22.5mm Br *** eBay "Juvenile Rat" on both sides, but no date
22.5mm NB *** Report "Juvenile Rat" on both sides, but no date


Super Token

Chuck E. Cheese's Super Token, show this super token when you buy a pizza and a pitcher of coke and get 5 free tokens. These were used and issued in Portland, OR for a special promotion in 1983-4. They were/are given to kids having birthday parties or at school to draw them in/back to CEC. They are rare because they are given out by just the one store instead of created nationally like the game tokens.
39mm Al (anodized gold) CA 910 CZB
same, (not anodized, error) CA 910 CZA


8 Free Tokens (1989)

I was recenly sent a scan of this item. It seems to have served the same purpose as the "super token" listed above. I had not heard of these before, so must be pretty scarce.
39mm (?) wood


5 Free Tokens

I was sent a scan of this token in 2011, but appears to be older. Probably another local issue with very few made. Original owner said he thought he got it when he was in kindergarten in Louisville, Kentucky.

39mm (?) wood


10 Free Tokens

"Good for 10 Free Tokens When Presented at Any Chuck E. Cheese's (c) 2003"
yellow plastic 32mm (other colors and dates may exist, this is the only one I have confirmed)

Feb 2010, got the following information from a CEC employee: The yellow plastic 10 free tokens token were from little plastic or rubber CEC figures from those 25 cent plastic bubble dispensers. You put a quarter in at whatever store you could find them at and you would receive a CEC figure plus the plastic token to lure people to the local stores.

Over the Hedge


From eBay listing: "Here is a new set of Chuck E. Cheese "Over the Hedge" promotional tokens. The nickel plated coins are the same .984 size as regular Chuck tokens but have been specially minted to promote DVD sales of the animated film. You get five different tokens, each featuring a different character from the movie. The backs of the coins are all the same - Chuck's smiling face along with the year and the "Where a kid can be a kid" slogan. This is a special limited issue item that the restaurants are offering, you need to use a special coupon and purchase a package deal to get the Hedge tokens." (These seem to be pretty widely available. I'm sure they will be somewhat scarcer than the regular CEC issues, but shouldn't be hard to get.)

Feb 2010, got the following info from a CEC employee: The tokens were to be used for only a one month period in all non-franchised CEC locations. They were the same size as the standard tokens and they were meant to be used by the guests on their visits. The promotion around the area in California I am in didn't go so well and there were a great deal left over at the end. I myself have about 10-20 of the 5-set bags. Locations were to dispose of them or send them back to corporate hq at the end of the promotion. Most locations got between 1-2 boxes of them. 4,000 tokens were in a box. So, a lot of them were out there.


Look Like Tokens, but Aren't

I'm including these because they resemble CEC tokens, even though they were not actually used as tokens.

 


"Mardi Gras" Token

39mm, gold-anodized aluminum, (rat head)/"New Orleans, Lousisiana". Not actually a "token", but given out at a banquet. Seems to be quite rare. Image courtesy of the Liebermann family collection.

Large Plastic "tokens"

Undated plastic tokens were cheap "prizes" that could be obtained by trading in tickets:
Adult mouse, 63mm, silver colored
Young mouse, 63mm, silver
Baby mouse, 63mm, silver


40th anniversary token

Saw a couple of these on eBay: Chuck E. Cheese's Limited Edition 40th Birthday Brass Token/Medal 28.7mm (1.13 inches) diameter

 


Aluminum tag?

An aluminum "tag" (?) showed up on eBay in 2000. From the design it looks like it is pre-1983. If anyone knows anything about this item, please let me know!
32mm, al, holed (as made?)


25th Anniversary Token (1977-2002)

25mm, NB. I have been told that: "I believe it [the 25th anniversary token] was affixed solely to the CEC Entertainment, Inc. Annual Report 2002 (sent to shareholders and employees enrolled in the 401(k) plan)."
I am not sure just how many tokens this would be, but it seems to be quite scare, and I have only seen one show up on eBay. This apparently is not really a "game token" (more of a "medal") but would be one of the rarer CEC items for those who choose to collect it.


Red Plastic "token"

October 2010, Travis writes - I got this disappearing token box prize for 60 tickets at my local Chuck E. Cheese recently, and it had a small plastic red token inside. It is almost the same size as a regular Chuck E. Cheese token. Also, the image is exactly the same on both sides. I measured it at 23mm.


Holed token, damaged?

The above token was listed on eBay and described as: "This test token came from an employee who worked for CEC. He brought it to a coin store and gave it to me. He knew that I collected CEC. Few people did at that time. Many tokens have holes in them to work on different machines and to save manufacturing costs. I have one in my collection and I sold one. This is the only one you can get." Even if this is a genuine test token, it could easily be faked by drilling a hole in a regular token. If anyone has more information about this, I would love to hear it!

Foreign (non-USA) tokens


Saudi Arabia

20 mm brass, no date "Jeddah, Saudi Arabia" (both sides are the same)

*May 2024* I have seen a scan of a 20mm "Jeddah" token that appears to be plated with another metal. Not sure if this was done by CEC or by someone else later on. Reported to be the same size as US dime (18mm).

20mm tokens also exist dated 2009 and 2014 (on lists above). These are not marked as Saudi Arabia, but are quite scarce and may also have been made for Saudi Arabia.


Undated Canada

The following two tokens were first used in Burlington, Canada (Alpert Supplement). This design has the "old" rat head on both sides, and one side has the text "A LA GRACE DE LA PIZZA." After 1982 these were used as "stock" tokens in Canada [Note: 2/05 two lots of these "silver colored" tokens, totaling 858 tokens, recently sold on eBay.]
25mm B Canada 165 CHU
25mm NBS Canada 165 CHV (nickel bonded steel) [magnetic]
25mm NB (nickel-plated brass) [not magnetic]

Tokens labeled "Burlington, Ontario" are listed at the bottom of the Cities tokens.


Charlie Cheese (Australia)

CEC opened a franchise in Australia with a small name change due to the association in Austriala of "Chuck" with "Vomit." The original Charlie Cheese's was opened in 1981 in the Grundy Entertainment Centre in Surfers Paradise, Queensland. This location closed in 1982, but another opened in Carina, Queensland the same year, and closed 1984-86. These are quite scarce. (Note the similarity of the Charlie Cheese head to the "3D Head" design of 1981.

"Charlie Cheese", 25mm, brass *dots between words* (made in Australia)
(same), 25mm, WM
"Charlie Cheese", 25mm, brass *stars between words* (made in USA)
(same), 25mm, WM


Grundy's (Australia)

Grundy’s Entertainment Centre, an arcade game and water slide venue affectionately known as Grundy’s, opened on a long weekend in March, 1981. The design on the tokens suggest a relationship with CEC but could be a coincidence.

"Grundy's", 23mm, br
"Grundy's", 23mm, WM
NCV/(map of Australia), 23mm, WM.
NCV/(map of Australia), 23mm, br
NCV/(map of Australia), 25mm, br


Shotime Teatre Perth

I was recently sent the following scan with the information: "I came across your site while searching for any information about a long gone restaurant of the 1980's in Perth, Western Australia (I still live here in Perth). It was called 'Pizza Showtime Theatre' and had all the characteristics of these CEC & Pizza Time franchises, but there is no mention of its existence, only those 2 on the east coast of Australia. It opened about 1980 in Murray Street Perth, in a disused 1930's balcony cinema (the 'Grand Theatre') and closed only a couple of years after that. Pizza Showtime was a pizza restaurant featuring singing & talking animatronic animal characters performing on stage and slot/games machines that ran on tokens, which I still have a few and have attached a scan. They measure about 26mm diameter." According to the Wikipedia entry, this was similar to CEC, but not related.



Other USA Franchise Tokens


Zapps

CEC experimented with an adult food, drink, and game parlor in some of the CEC locations that didn't do well. The name of the stores (in Reno, Cupertino, Tampa) was Zapps. Note the similarity between the reverse of the Zapps token and the reverse of the CEC tokens.
"Zapps", 25mm, brass, CA 910 ZAP (also known in NB)


Gilbret Zapps

There are also tokens from "Gilbert Zapps" in Campbell, CA. I have been informed that this establishment was also owned by CEC, but I don't have any detailed information about this.
"Gilbert Zapps", 25mm, brass, CA 112 GIL (also known in NB)


TJ Hartford's

A new experiment by CEC: TJ Hartfords. Currently (2002) a test location in Lewisville, TX, used tokens at first, but then switched to quarters. I don't know if they will start using tokens again.
"TJ Hartfords," 25mm, dated 2001, brass
Same, but in copper, seen on eBay Aug 2013

I heard from someone who found the following token while remodelling a CEC in Brownsville, GA in 1996. I've never heard of it before, but it could be something that was used for a short period of time.
Chuck E's Freeze/(same), 28mm, al (gold).

Return to main token page.