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Great Britain - 1805

George Cooke

Obverse:

Bare head of George Cooke, right.

Legend:

GEORGIUS COOKE . TRAGOEDUS COMOEDUSQUE ANGLICUS.
(George Cooke, the English tragic and comic actor)

Size:

54 mm.

Reverse:

Inscription within closed wreath of palm and laurel.

Legend:

VELURI / IN / SPECULUM / MDCCCV.
(As though in a mirror)

BHM:

AR, AE 54 by T. Webb AR RR; AE CC.
E.P.M. 1890/76.
AM; BM; BMAG; FM; NMI.

George Frederick Cooke (1756-1811) actor. He was a printer's apprentice at Berwick and first appeared on the provincial stage in 1776; his first London appearance was two years later. His performances were somewhat erratic and in 1803 Cooke was hissed off the stage for drunkeness. In 1810 he went to America where he was well received; he acted in the principal American cities and eventually died in New York in 1811.

from British Historical Medals, p. 140

George Cooke