WOOD’S MINSTRELS SILVER TOKEN

$100.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 998-834

Due to a shortage of official U.S. coinage at the time, businesses like Wood’s Minstrels had their own private coinage struck to meet public demand and make transactions. Coin is the size of a quarter and reads, “ADMIT TO WOOD’S MINSTRELS 561-563 BDWAY N.Y. / TEMPLE OF MINSTRELS ERECTED 1857”. Reverse reads, “WARRENTED PURE SILVER / INTRINSIC VALUE 25 CTS. / WOOD’S MINSTRELS PERFORM EVERY EVENING GIVING A SELECT AND VARIED ENTERTAINMENT”.

Formed in about 1842, Wood’s Minstrels were a troupe of performers who traveled and provided musical and comedic entertainment. The troupe started performing regular shows in Buffalo, New York and soon moved to New York City in 1846. Sometime on or about 1853 the group splintered, and an offshoot of the troupe formed. Known as ‘George Christy & Wood’s Minstrels’, Henry Wood led the dramatic company of actors, actresses, performers, comedians, and acrobats.

On October 15th 1857 a new minstrel hall opened for the troupe. Known as Henry Wood’s Marble Hall, the theatre occupied 561 and 563 Broadway and could seat 2000 people. In harmony with its opening, the troupe began issuing custom made admission tokens for its revues. These tokens replaced the counterstamped tokens previously issued, and were struck from silver. Each token had the value of 25-cents, and featured an image of Wood’s Marble Hall on its obverse. This is the type of coin offered here.

Quite unusual in comparison to most merchant storecards, the token possessed the actual intrinsic value of its face amount. The theatre’s last show was September 3, 1859. For the Marble Hall, its structure was altered to accommodate the Merchants and Manufacturers’ Bank.  The building was torn down in July 1877.  [SL]

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