Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

Theatre and Entertainment, COVENT GARDEN, Theatre Royal, First Theatre, copper, by T. Pingo, bust of the Duke of Cumberland right, gvlielmvs dvx cvmbriæ around, rev. pit, 33mm, 15.56g (W 98; D & W 14/171; cf. Eimer 2). Obverse edge knock at 1 o’clock, otherwise about fine, rare £80-100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Tickets and Passes of London from the David Young Collection.

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Provenance: Gift of A.H.F. Baldwin 1970.

The Covent Garden theatre was built by John Rich and opened in December 1732. Rebuilt in 1782 and enlarged 10 years later, the theatre was destroyed by fire in 1808 with considerable loss of life. Rebuilt for a second time in 1809, the theatre remained open until 1842, then closed for a further rebuild before opening as the Royal Italian Opera House in 1847. A second fire destroyed the structure in 1856, but it was rebuilt and reopened in 1858