Which retail payment innovation was first widely adopted in the 1950s, featuring a cardboard design before evolving into the plastic format we recognize today?

The history of retail has been marked by groundbreaking innovations that transformed how people shop. From ancient bazaars to modern e-commerce, retail systems have evolved dramatically. This trivia question focuses on a pivotal innovation in retail payment technology that revolutionized the shopping experience in the 20th century and laid groundwork for today's cashless society.

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Diners Club Card (the first widely successful charge card)
Merchant tokens (metal coins specific to individual retailers)
Retail gift certificates (paper precursors to gift cards)
Electronic point-of-sale systems (early digital cash registers)