Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

Circuses, Bannister’s Travelling Circus, brass, by Bagnall, standing man holding whip, ln bannister riding master returns thanks to the public in general, compasses below, rev. man holding flag, stood on back of horse cantering left, 26mm, 5.77g (W 955; D & W 9/93). Area of discolouration on obverse, otherwise fine, scarce £40-50

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: Bt L. McCarthy November 2002.

James Bannister, impresario; his daughter, Sarah, was the star attraction at her father’s self-styled Olympic Circus which toured the country in the second decade of the 19th century. After Bannister was declared bankrupt in 1819 she joined the famous Astley’s circus