There are a few different ways to use the word "token." In the first set of examples, a token is a coin or something of value that is used in place of real money.
Sophia needed to buy some tokens for the washing machines when she took her laundry to the laundromat.
Matthew bought some tokens so that he could ride the bus.
At some arcades, the pinball machines and video games take tokens instead of quarters.
A person who doesn’t have a token to take the subway might try to jump over the turn style in order to get in.
He doesn’t have a token so he’s jumping over the turn style.
A token can also be a person or a thing that represents a value or a very conscious effort. A token, in this case, can be seen as something positive or negative:
positive
The flowers that Mary gave to John were a token of her appreciation for his work.
The wedding rings exchanged in a wedding ceremony are tokens of mutual love and commitment.
Please accept this gift as a token of our friendship.
negative
Some employees believe Yolanda was promoted over someone more qualified because the company need a token female in that position.
George laughs and says that he’s the token male in an all-female salon.
The last-minute addition to the tax bill was seen as an empty token gesture to working-class voters.
He doesn’t have a token so he’s jumping over the turn style.