The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 15, April 11, 2004, Article 20

NUMISMATICS & RIOTS

  In March 21, 2004 E-Sylum (v7n12) I wrote: "... what
  numismatic items are the result of, or commemorate riots?
  I can think of one example, and rather than list it here I'll
  make it a quiz question for our readers.  Let's see how
  different many examples you folks can think of."

  Well, I didn't think this would stump our readers, but
  I haven't received any replies on the topic.  The incident
  I had in mind were the Old Price Riots, a civil disorder in
  Great Britain centered around the 1809 price increase at
  the new Covent Garden Theatre.

  "Covent Garden burnt to the ground in September of 1808.
  In rebuilding, the managers changed the design of the theatre
  to accommodate a larger audience and the dramatic spectacle
  that increasingly characterized theatrical production. The New
  Covent Garden included twenty-six private boxes in place of
  the old third-tier of dress boxes. In order to finance the
  rebuilding (which was funded partly by public subscription),
  the management raised ticket prices slightly. The theater
  audience objected to the raised prices and the new architecture,
  as well as to the hiring of Angelica Catalani. The changes to the
  theatre, they claimed, had been made autocratically without
  public approval. Chanting "OP" for Old Prices, the protestors
  staged elaborately theatrical riots inside the theatre. Rioters in
  the pits wore OP hats, danced the OP dance, sang OP songs,
  raised OP placards, and circulated satirical OP handbills. At
  one point, rioters organized an "OP ball" to take place within
  the theatre."  From Old Price Riots

  The numismatic association is a medal, #677 in British Historical
  Medals 1760-1960, Volume I, pp. 166.  See Article

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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