British Coins and Tokens

LONDON, Leicester Square, Empire Theatre, [1887], copper Halfcrown, empire theatre, rev. grand promenade above value, 30mm, 9.88g (W 751; MG 347). Very fine £30-£40

D. Young Collection [from R. Gladdle February 2005]

The Empire Theatre opened in April 1884 as the Alcazar Theatre, being relaunched as The Empire Theatre of Varieties in 1887. In March 1896 it became the first theatre in the UK to host cine film by the Lumière brothers. Acquired by MGM, the theatre was largely demolished in 1927, and it reopened as a cinema in November 1928.