British Tokens, Tickets and Passes

Theatre and Entertainment, COVENT GARDEN, Foundation Stone of the New Theatre Royal [Second Theatre] Laid, 1808, a copper medal by P. Rouw, bust of the Prince of Wales right, rev. georgius princeps walliarum theatri regiis instaurandi auspiciis in hortis benedictinis londini fundamenta sua. manu. locavit and date, 90mm (BHM 638). Some minor marks and light rubbing to high points of obverse, otherwise very fine and a handsome medal, only about 25 struck, very rare £300-£400

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

View
Collection

Provenance: Bt T. Millett September 2014.

The original Covent Garden theatre was destroyed in a fire in 1808, with the loss of some 30 lives. The theatre was rebuilt, for a cost in the order of £150,000, and re-opened the following year. The inscription on the medal infers that the Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone himself