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| "Pizzatime" | "Pizza Time" |
There are many different "minor" varieties of Chuck E. Cheese tokens. The ones listed here are relatively easy to spot, but others exist. The choice of which varieties to collect and which to ignore must be decided by each collector.
Between 1990 and 1995 Chuck E. Cheese tokens have both "large date" and "small date" varieties (which seem to be correlated to die rotation differences). I will try to add some information about these varieties soon.
For the first three years (1977-1979) "Pizzatime" is shown on the front of the token as one word. In 1980 and 1981, some tokens show it as one word "Pizzatime" and others as two words "Pizza Time." In 1982 (as far as I know) it is always shown as two words. In 1983 the design changed, and after that "Pizza Time" does not appear on the tokens.
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| "Pizzatime" | "Pizza Time" |
For the first three years (1977-1979) the reverse of the tokens reads "25c Value" in the center. From 1980-1982, the center may read "25c play value", "25c play", or "25c value". Tokens from 1983-1990 (when the design was changed) seem to always say "25c play value."
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| "Play Value" | "Play" | "Value" |
Some of the "generic" 1981 tokens have a small "pilgrim hat" mintmark near the date. These tokens were made by Roger Williams Mint. The mintmark appears on token which also have the "short whiskers" observe design.
The 1981 "3-D head" design is known in two varieties (below). In one, the bottom edge of the rat head is clearly visible at the lower right (left image), in the other one, this edge is not visible (right image). This could be a result of die polishing, and not an intentional difference.
Some of the "generic" 1986 tokens have a small interlocked "OC" mintmark (Osborne Coinage) at the rim near the date. Some of the 1986 and 1987 "generic" tokens have a small "RWM" mintmark (Roger Williams Mint) above the "25" on the reverse.
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| "OC" mintmark | "RWM mintmark |
There are also some varieties of the tokens with cities. These are included in the listing of tokens with cities.
The adult mouse II design has two varieties. Many people collect
these, and they are pretty easy to tell apart once you've seen a few. However,
the differences are not readily apparent "at first glance" so for
the time being I am not including them in the main listing.
The token on the left has a relatively small (R) after "Kid", the 3 dots on each side of the date are small and widely spaced, and both sides have the same orientation. The token on the right has a relatively large (R), the 3 dots are larger and more closely spaced, and the two sides of the token are rotated by 180 degrees. These also differ in die rotation. According to a CEC source, the "small (R)" design was used in corporate locations from 1990-1995, while the "large (R)" design was used in franchises from 1990-present (Hoffman mint).
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