Phillip Astley Token

Side one: Mercury on horseback with text below, "Lyceum Strand / London" and text circling "The First Equestn. Performance in Europe." Side two shows a man standing on his head upon a sword point with text below "Every Evening" and around "Is Singing Dancing Tumbling Slack Wire etc." According to Kuethe (author of Magician's Tokens and Related Items), "Although there is nothing on this token to identify Phillip Astley as the issuer, it is known that Astley occupied the Lyceum while his amphithatre was being rebuilt after the fire of 1794. Astley was the author of "Astley's System of Equestrian Education as well as Natural Magic, or, Physical Amusements Revealed, a conjuring book greatly sought after by collectors." Good condition with some wear and a few imperfections. MT019