This 1796 silver token, a ticket medal to the Private Theatre at Fishamble St. in Dublin, comes up at an online sale at Dix Noonan Webb in London on August 27. With the robed figures of Tragedy, Comedy and Lyric and in the name of L. Taylor it was made by William Mossop, considered to be the founder of metallic art in Ireland, and speaks to a history of theatre splits here.
The Private Theatre – located on the same premises where Handel’s Messiah had its world premiere at the New Music Hall in 1742 – was established in the1790’s as a result of dissatisfaction with the way affairs were conducted at the city’s Theatre Royal, which had opened at Smock Alley in 1662. Under the management of the Earl of Westmeath and Frederick Jones, described as a threatre promoter and gentleman of independent means from Vesington, Co. Meath, it must have involved some talent scouting. Each subscriber was allowed two silver tickets and could, if qualified, take part in the performance. Lot 219 is from a collection of 81 lots of Irish tokens from a private collection and is estimated at £300-£400.
UPDATE: THE TOKENS SOLD FOR £750