Token, Great Britain, ca. early nineteenth century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. early nineteenth century
Token, Great Britain, ca. early nineteenth century is an object recorded by Victoria and Albert Museum, dated ca. early nineteenth century. The museum's brief description reads: Circular copper ticket check or commemorative medallion, struck for G. Bayly's Museum of Natural History, ca. early nineteenth century. Museum description: Circular copper token for G. Bayly's Museum of Natural History, obverse: the words 'A CROCODILE TO BE SEEN ALIVE AT G BAYLY'S MUSEUM FOR' around the edge and a picture of a crocodile standing by some water in the centre. Reverse: the inscription continues, 'ALL SORTS OF NATURAL HISTORY 242 PICCADILLY' with a picture in the centre of a coiled snake beside a tree. The museum record gives material recorded as copper; measurements Diameter 2.8 cm; place associated: Great Britain. These details come from the holding museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
In the early 19th century theatre tickets were not printed on paper unless the performance was for a Benefit, when the beneficiary received a percentage of the profits. For everyday performances tickets were in the form of brass or copper metal checks, which were purchased when patrons entered the theatre, and surrendered to 'check takers' as they went into the auditorium. Shareholders in some theatres even received beautifully chased and engraved silver tickets which allowed them free entry for a specified number of years. Ivory tickets, or bones, were introduced in the late 1780s and were given to actors to act as free passes for certain nights and subscribers received ivories or bones which they bought with their names and the season inscribed on them. Unlike the metal checks, these were kept by their owners for the entire season and scrutinised when they got to the theatre. They usually had a hole pierced in them through which a ribbon was inserted so the subscriber hung it on to his lapel, much as a card pass to an enclosure at a race meeting is today.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- copper
- Dimensions
- Diameter 2.8 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- copper, struck
- Place recorded
- Great Britain
Identification
- Museum object name
- Token
- Museum object number
- S.1421-2014
- Museum system number
- O1295804
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm materials, dimensions, maker and wider type against the museum record and a specialist reference.