A solid silver chocolate box made for the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII is set to go up for auction in Scarborough, with auctioneers estimating it could fetch up to £1,000. David Duggleby Auctioneers describe it as an "incredibly rare item", believed to be only the second of its kind to appear at auction this century, offering collectors a rare chance to acquire a piece of royal and confectionery history.

The 125-year-old box, produced by Sheffield silversmiths Cooper Brothers and Sons for York chocolate maker Rowntree, originally held a single bar of chocolate and retains its original red leather case in remarkable condition. While thousands of painted tin versions were distributed to schoolchildren and the public, only a small number of solid silver examples were made, given to the King and Queen and to Rowntree family members; ordinary tins typically sell for £30-£300. The box is hallmarked Sheffield 1901 and bears the incorrect coronation date of 26 June 1902, as the ceremony was actually postponed to 9 August after Edward VII fell ill. The item goes under the hammer on Friday morning.