1892 Chicago World's Fair Coin Puzzle Box

We bought this at a South Dakota Farm Auction. Nobody there knew anything about it. It appears to be a stack of 10 brass coins and we think it is a souvenir of the Columbian Exposition - the Chicago World's Fair of 1893.

The stack measures an inch high and about an inch and a quarter in diameter.

We've twisted it backwards and forwards and upside down. We've applied magnets (thinking that maybe there is a hidden release pin. We've whacked it against the palm of our hands and turned. We've pushed and pulled and turned. And turned.

When shaken, it sounds like there is something inside. Something that nearly fills the box - that is, not loose rattling.

My surgeon friend arranged for me to put this under the CT Scanner at the local Hospital. It's too solid to see through.

We are hoping someone has an idea that may help. If you do, please eMail me. Thanks!

I've seen two versions of this item. The versions I've seen are both brass though. From the looks of yours, it appears to be a different metal (silver, or white metal?) Is that the case? (Rick's note - no, mine's brass colored) One version is "hollow" and usually has a "hinge" at top (along the edge). Is there any evidence that there was a hinge on the first coin that is now missing? (Rick's note: absolutely no sign of any hinge) If so, I would suggest that it's OK to try to pop it off, would also explain why the top coin would "spin". The hinge is usually even with the top of Columbus' bust. This hollow container usually held coins (either medals or half dollars) (Rick's note: Yipee!) and my guess would be that is what you'd find inside if you opened it... The other version of this is solid & was sold as a paperweight. It's could be the paperweight too, and the "weight" inside is a bit loose & moving around. If there's evidence of a hinge along the reeded edge (check under magnification), I might try to open it. If there isn't, it's likely that there's nothing inside except for a solid metal weight. As best I know, what you have is NOT a puzzle piece. There are several trick puzzles from the fair, but this isn't one of them (to my knowledge.)

You COULD just keep trying things till it either came open or you wore it open...but then you would probably not remember just what you did to get it open if you DID get it open by happenstance.

Of course, if you REALLY want to know, you can search the patent office for a copy of the original patent application. It's over a hundred years old and I'm sure the patent records are public domain. If they applied for a patent, drawings of the thing are still on file, along with the secret for how to open it.....

Rick's note: I'll go back and try to make heads and tails of the Patent Office website.

The one I have (looks just like yours) has the top hinged and it opens and closes. It was sold as a pin box, but I suppose it could be almost anything - a pill box, a coin holder, etc. Should sell for about $50 - $100.

We have seen those here in Chicago at our coin shop. The top should screw off; apparently the threads are stripped. You might as well force it (gently). In decent shape, they are worth at least $50. Impaired like that it would be less. There is no telling what is inside, but it is nothing that came with it originally.

I'm just guessing here, but if there are gravity pins in the mechanism. you
might find that one of the other nine coins can be turned after you've held
the box in a certain orientation and turned the top to some specific
position. It looks to me like the bottom nine coins are one solid piece,
but you never know ...

We've been over it with a jeweler's loupe and it sure looks like the bottom
coins are all one piece. And, we've sat for hours (while watching TV, etc)
turning and tapping and twisting and... hoping we'll stumble upon the proper
combination.

Hi Rick,

Saw your enigmatic puzzle box and had to give it a try. Although some of these things may have been made as paperweights, I doubt yours is.

Even in the 1800's one would not apply for a patent on a paperweight; I have a patent and know they are expensive and time consuming to get. I checked the patent database, but patents filed prior to 1976 can only be searched by patent number so no luck there.

I found a gent in Ireland that makes these types of puzzles out of corian based on a design from the mid 1800's. One of his looks quite similar to yours.

If I am right, the part that spins freely (labeled "A" in the picture) is not the lid; the lid is actually above it. The free-spinning part has to be held stationary with one hand while the actual lid is unscrewed. To add insult to injury, these were often machined with a left-hand thread so you have to turn the lid to the right/clockwise in order to unscrew it.

Looking at the top-view picture, it is possible that the actual lid is inset into the face of the top coin. The place where the radial lines meet the central coin face would be a great place to hide a seam. Just to the left of the "1492" stamp, for example, you can see the shadow kicked up by the radial line design.

Cutting to the chase: Hold the puzzle in your non-dominant hand securing the spinning ring so it can not turn. With the thumb of your dominant hand push down hard on Columbus' face to get good traction and turn. Try both clockwise and counter-clockwise as it could be machined either way. The hidden lid

should then unscrew.

Let me know if it works. Also, if you have an interest in the modern version, let me know and I will get you the info on the guy that makes them.

The picture I sent is a modification of one of his web-site photos used under fair-use doctrine so please don't post it online. Best regards and good luck,

John

05/12 Hello My name is Vivian and I just wanted to let you know that I have the exact same paperweight (Christopher Columbus) that you have. But we have opened it. It is filled with lead. You can open it by turning just the top coin counter clockwise till it comes to a place where it seems hard to turn. At this point we took and small knife and applied pressure on the lid and it popped right off. There are threads there but very little. There was a patiented applied for, cause if you look at he bottom it says pat appld for. I hopes this helps. my great great aunt went to the worlds fair and actually bought it there... vivian..

Hi Vivian... Thanks for this. That's what I thought, although we have turned the top every-which-way and there doesn't seem to be a place where it seems hard to turn...