摘要 |
A token for use, for example, in the gaming, vending, toll collection and amusement industries, has identifying indicia for automated discrimination of a token identification such as the issuing entity, denomination or the like. The token has a body, substantially shaped as a flat disk having opposite surfaces, with code marks impressed or minted directly into the token face surfaces on one or both opposite sides. The identification marks include surface variations aligned at least partly at an angle relative to a plane of the token surface, the marks being detectable as reflective or non-reflective variations, for example by an optical detector or by an optical emitter-detector pair. The identification marks can be annular rings or transverse variations elongated in a direction extending from a center to an edge of the token, which token preferably is round. The code of a particular token is determined by at least one of presence of an identification mark or pattern at a defined location, spacing of identification marks, and correspondence or non-correspondence of marks on opposite sides or in different areas of the token. The code is detectable as the token moves past a detector and spin of the token is irrelevant. |