(1797) 1D New York Theatre Middlesex-167, BN MS(PCGS#90658)

Spring 2023 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

1128

等级

PR64BN

价格

118,647

详细说明

Exceptional New York Theatre Token Proof-64+ BN (PCGS) Undated (ca. 1797) Theatre at New York Token. W-9080, Breen-1055. Rarity-6. Proof-64+ BN (PCGS). 408.6 grains. Last offered in our 1998 Americana sale, where this piece was featured on the cover. We described it at the time as having "nice, light olive brown color on both sides" with fields that were "still bright and reflective." The die state is early, before the right side of the reverse bulged considerably. The surfaces show abundant faded mint color, great flash, and few post-striking defects. The planchet shows some inherent chips, including one tiny flaw on the obverse rim below C of AMERICA and a scattering in the open expanse of the reverse field. The eye appeal is really superb for the grade. The Theatre at New York token has been popular in American circles for a long time. The American Journal of Numismatics, April 1868, noted "This rare and interesting token represents the Park Theatre, destroyed by fire May 25, 1820, but afterwards rebuilt in a style somewhat different from that of the building exhibited on the coin." The cornerstone was laid on May 5, 1795, on Chatham Row, New York City. At first called the New Theatre, the facility officially opened on Monday, January 29, 1798. Featured was Shakespeare's As You Like It, preceded by an address by Mr. Hodgkinson and a prelude by Mr. Milne, and followed by "Purse, or American Tar," a musical entertainment. Up to about 2,300 people could be seated. In 1806 the building was sold to John Jacob Astor and John K. Beekman for $50,000. They were the owners at the time of the fire. This token was probably issued in 1798, when passion in England for collecting Conder tokens was fading rapidly. The dies were executed by Benjamin Jacob, a Birmingham engraver, auctioneer, and ironmonger. Coining was accomplished at a factory operated by Peter Skidmore, in partnership with his father John, at 15 Coppice Row, Clerkenwell, London from 1797 to 1809. The penny size is unusual in the context of Conder-style tokens and was part of a series of Skidmore issues of this format, illustrating various buildings. All known examples are struck in copper and have Proof finish, like this one, as these were made for collectors, not for use as advertising. Today, examples are scarce, and most are pretty nice. About 20 are known. We haven't sold an example since 2019. Provenance: From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) Americana sale of January 1998, lot 216; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006. PCGS Population: 3; 7 finer (MS-66 BN finest). To view supplemental information and all items from the Sydney F. Martin Collection, click here. PCGS# 90658. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA. Click here to see Coins in Motion.[“Coins]