Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

Theatre and Entertainment, DRURY LANE, Theatre Royal, Second Theatre, 1684, copper, conjoined busts of Charles II and Catherine of Braganza right, theatre royal, rev. for the first gallerie above date, 31mm, 9.95g (W 182; D & W 18/197). Worn but rare £40-60

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 S.H. Monks April 2008.

The first Theatre Royal in Drury lane opened at Easter 1663 but was destroyed by fire in 1672. Rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, it re-opened in March 1674. The theatre was enlarged in 1762 and again in 1775; closed in 1791, it was rebuilt and re-opened for a third time in 1794. Fire once again destroyed the property in 1809, but the current theatre dates to October 1812