Hello all, You may remember some time ago (back in 2013, actually) I posted about the 1936 penny snuff box I had bought from a chap who makes them in Wales: http://www.snuffhouse.org/discussion/7342/1936-uk-penny-snuff-box I still have mine - in my pocket as I speak - and am still filling it with WoS Royal George (though I think SG Wild Duck may go in next time, as that with a hint of George is delicious), and it’s now darkened in shade and is beautifully burnished from about a year of being polished in my pocket. The reason I’m posting this is that I recently had an email from him to say he’s started up an online shop, and some of the coin boxes he’s offering now are gorgeous. Pennies, Guernsey Doubles, Roubles and Dollars, all domed and well soldered (I think it’s probably silver solder, which is the stuff that keeps the keywork attached on my saxophones, and as a couple of those are nearly ninety years old I know it to be strong stuff). I told him about Snuffhouse, and said I’d post a link to his shop here, and so here it is: http://coincrafts.myshopify.com/ He’s got a special offer section on page two of the ‘Items For Sale’ section which is worth a look. I’m not affiliate with him in any way, just impressed with his work and keen to share the beauty. Pip-pip, chums!

I’m still using mine and I love it.

I have a few of them and think that are pretty decent though I do prefer the screw top ones.

How airtight are these. are they safe for in the pocket ? or more of an on your desk pot ?

@Derek_007 Judging by the one that I have - not entirely airtight, but not at all bad; yes - safe for pocket use.

Thank you, email sent … I fancy an old English coin pot … Some more “clutter” for the wife to moan about

I was motivated by this thread to get in touch with John and order a pot made from Churchill Crowns. [Crowns were British 5 shilling pieces, legal tender but mostly issued as collectors’ pieces in the 20th century, and the largest British coin minted at the time - 2.5in. diameter and 1/8in. thick. The Churchill crown was issued in 1965 to mark his death.] Anyway, I sent the initial enquiry on Monday, he made the item for me yesterday in time to catch the final post and it arrived today. Impressive service, and he charged me £20 including postage. I will post photos tomorrow, but it’s a beautiful item. Go on, you know you really need one…

I received my British 1967 coin this morning (my DOB) these are wonderful, the workmanship is fantastic. Highly recommended Even better when its holding Mull of Oa!

Post a piccie then, old chap! Regarding airtightedness (airtightnessity? I dunno…) mine still has some resistance when I push the lid on as the air is slow coming out. That’s tight enough for me.

Here is my box, May be worth ordering the flat base if you want to stand in on desk or something ( I have one on the way!)

I promised to post pictures of mine, so here they are. One close-up, and one next to a penny pot and a Patrick Collins box to give you an idea of scale.

Your birthyear box is a beauty, Derek - that version of the Elizabeth pennies is really pretty. I was seven when you were born, used to get fivepence a week pocket money (a threepenny bit and two pennies) and by then was often puzzled as to why the pennies had a picture of ‘a lady in a wheelchair’ on the back of them… :)) Justin, when I got my penny one I wondered if it would be big enough, but it’s a good size for my pocket, not bulky, and holds enough Royal George for a day (wouldn’t be big enough for SG Black Coffee cos I’m a fiend for the stuff!). The Churchill Crown is a classy looking one, I wondered if he’d dome that but it looks good flat, and I suppose that makes it a bit wider, too. Is it deeper than the penny ones, or am I just imagining it?

No, you aren’t imagining it - it is deeper than the penny pots. The ‘wall’ of the penny pot is roughly 3/8" deep and that of the crown roughly 5/8", although the doming on the penny adds some height. The crown pot is OK for a jacket pocket, but really it’s a table-top item.

I picked up one of John’s smaller Irish 1/2 penny boxes and it is splendidly done. I wanted something smaller in the pocket that while not suited for pinching, is perfect for tapping out snuff and taking via the boxcar method. I’m currently putting it through its paces with some Honey Bee… One of my favorites to boxcar. It probably will not ever house Toque’s snuff as I prefer to pinch that. Might order a larger one at some point that is better sized for pinching with a flat base… time will tell.

Hmm … the Haile Selassie coin box would impress my Rasta friends … on the other hand, Queen Victoria was THE great British monarch … Edward was kinda cool … a birth year box would be nice … the hammer and sickle would be worth a giggle with my pinko little sister … and then, the idea of an old Dutch-East Indies box is appealing. Okay, I draw the line at the Third Reich. Not if the contents are going up my nose. Bad karma, man. But apart from that, one of each, please!

I didn’t see a Third Reich one.

I didn’t see a Third Reich one.

No, not on that site. You see them on eBay every now and again. Apparently, Herman Hess was an avid snuff user and used to give away large numbers of snuff boxes with third reich symbols on them.

Well it can’t be supporting the Nazi party now. I might get one. Would be for show not use though. Snuffing out of it sounds wrong still.

Well, the Swastika was hijacked by the Nazi’s and has a history going back thousands of years as a sign of good things in many Indian religions, so if you accidentally find yourself owning a Swastika snuff box just fill it up with some 6 Photo.

The Nazis reversed the swastika though.

I couldn’t use it. Got a bunch of Israeli friends in Jakarta, some from German backgrounds. It would cost friendships if they saw it. But I’m sorry I brought this up. Lets get back to these excellent snuffboxes on offer here.

I couldn’t use it. Got a bunch of Israeli friends in Jakarta, some from German backgrounds. It would cost friendships if they saw it. But I’m sorry I brought this up. Lets get back to these excellent snuffboxes on offer here.

I was only playing, can’t say it’s something I’d want to own, either. Still thinking about the Rouble ones though. And I’ve got a Churchill crown that my mum and dad (or possibly nan or grandad) got me when they brought them out… Oh, the dangers of acquisitiveness!

I wouldn’t want my snuff near any copper. That includes @Abraxas‌.

On topic with snuff and copper. I put a scotch in mine with the intent of taking a sample each day and seeing if any copper taste would leach into the snuff. After the 3rd day of this experiment, I could detect the distinct taste of copper… especially in the throat drip. I wouldn’t advise storing any snuff for more than a day in copper. Certainly wouldn’t suggest any moist snuffs be stored in it at all. (Again, my box is an Irish 1/2 penny box, so it is of a smaller diameter and feasibly could leach quicker. Your mileage may vary if using a larger coin box.)

Good morning gents, chaps, blokes and female equivalents. Got a varnish for my coin snuff box (French 10 Franc 1978) to coat the insides with a varnish. Probably get the first coat applied this afternoon. Let you all know how it went. It’s my job for after the mountain of bloody ironing how do people with families cope?? http://www.craftrange.com/items.aspx?item=010507\\_0124 Website chosen not based on anything but location; headoffice with retail store only 5 miles from me, collected in person.

First of two coats applied, likely going to leave it 24 hrs before applying second coat, and then leave for another 24hrs. This won’t completely seal the insides, but will make a significant difference. After cleaning and drying, I used a cannister of compressed gas to blow out any remaining flecks of dirt and moisture. It highlighted to me that copper isn’t perfectly soldered to the coin, and the varnish should make it more airtight. I’m undecided if I will coat the outside of the box – I won’t run out anyways, so if anyone wants to trade something for 95% full bottle of said varnish, please ask I’ll be finished with it by the weekend but wait for my final review.

Doing a bit of research on this and it looks like copper was a fairly common substance from which snuffboxes were made. I wonder if, in time, the ‘copperyness’ reduces? I have a small halfpenny pot which I will be giving as a gift to an occasional snuff taker and wondered if it might prove a reasonable temporary snuff box from time to time.

@Thunderbird - It does you know. I have a couple of small copper/brass type snuff boxes and make the mistake of polishing the inner of the first one I brought as it was kind of grubby. It was a bit of mare for a while after that; I put some best dark in there and it practically glued the lid to the base… Over the course of a few months the oxide layer has built up again and it works great now, no ghosting or tainting at all

The box is varnished, but I’m going to trial it with a new delivery of WoS Gold Label.

@MisterPaul That’s interesting, I might ‘season’ the box with a lesser-used snuff for a while and see what happens.

@Thunderbird - Something moist seems to work best. I used best dark, which is pretty moist. The ‘seasoning’ snuff isn’t good for anything as it does taint; does seem to sort the issue though. The above box is fine now.

I’ve used Viking Dark. Will report back.

I have this one in the mail… Hopefully it will show up by Christmas…

I buy one if it was made with 1996 proof american eagle 999 silver bullion. $-)

I buy one if it was made with 1996 proof american eagle 999 silver bullion. $-)

Well, send him a couple and I’m sure he’d do it. :)) That ha’penny one looks nice Nose Warmer, hope it’s big enough, though. Maybe stick some Prince Regent or Reslein in there to stop you using it up too fast…

That ha’penny one looks nice Nose Warmer, hope it’s big enough, though. Maybe stick some Prince Regent or Reslein in there to stop you using it up too fast…

I actually just contacted him direct and I commissioned him to make one from Scottish Shillings… It Sould be ready after the first of the year… As for size, my snuff habit isn’t too heavy yet

Well they showed up today… And they are WONDERFUL!

They’re like jewels when they arrive, aren’t they! They’ll darken over time, if you keep it in a pocket with no other change or sharp objects to scratch the surface they’ll get burnished.

They’re like jewels when they arrive, aren’t they!

Yes they are… John sent me a second one (gifted) because the box I ordered was a mis-posting on his part… My birth year was not minted for that coin. He made it right with the larger one in the photo with the correct birth year at no expense to me… I offered to pay and he declined… You don’t find customer service like that anymore… I’ll be one of his best customers I have a feeling…

Scottish Schilling Snuff Box

Looks wonderful, Nosewarmer - especially that milled edge!

Looks wonderful, Nosewarmer - especially that milled edge!

I really like it… John did a great job… I need to send him some larger coins…

Beautiful! It’s amazing to see true craftsmanship go into fine snuffboxes. I’ll have to get one for my birthday… what I’d like to use are some Shekels…

Just noticed this thread. Excellent! I stumbled on these and immediately ordered an Eight Doubles screw top box in my birth year. Seeing the extra pics here has helped me make it through the waiting period. Not easy. Excellent information here. BTW…the attached photo is of an item similar to mine, but a different year.

The Eight Doubles one is really striking, isn’t it - it’s a beautiful looking coin already, and the doming just improves it. I’m wondering what a couple of Churchill crowns would come out like - I’ve got one which my Mum and Dad gave me as a present when I was little, and they’re not expensive to buy…

I’m wondering what a couple of Churchill crowns would come out like - I’ve got one which my Mum and Dad gave me as a present when I was little, and they’re not expensive to buy…

Have a look earlier in this thread - I got him to make me one last year. The result is probably too heavy for a pocket but looks good as a table box.

Have a look earlier in this thread - I got him to make me one last year.

Oh yes - and I commented on it, too! Well, it was a while ago… :-" Any reason he didn’t make that one domed? Maybe it would make it look a bit ‘fat’ and chunky…

I’ve just received mine and I couldn’t be happier. The one I ordered went AWOL in the post, so John kindly sent a replacement. It’s really gorgeous, a good weight and very tactile in the hand, I’ve hardly been able to put it down. It really is a beautiful thing, it has a very nicely fitting lid, no chance of it coming open in the pocket or leaking. I’ll be getting more, it’s just a matter of deciding which coins to go for.

Any reason he didn’t make that one domed? Maybe it would make it look a bit ‘fat’ and chunky…

I think that’s probably right - the end result is pretty hefty anyway. I do like the look of that half crown box, though - looks as though it might be small enough to carry. My Churchill one is just too much of a lump to go easily into a pocket without drawing too much attention to itself!

I’ll be getting more, it’s just a matter of deciding which coins to go for.

Don’t use any of these.

Good point, well made. My lucky 25 pesetas are too small anyway