A guest on BBC's Antiques Roadshow was left speechless when he discovered the staggering value of his item - a tiny chocolate bar. The chocolate bar, dating back to 1902, was created to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

Lisa Lloyd, an expert on the show, was thrilled when she was shown a small tin containing the chocolate during the episode aired on Sunday, September 1. This episode was a repeat and was filmed at Cromford Mills in Derbyshire.

The owner explained to her: "It was given to me by my father when they were clearing the house out but it belonged to his father and obviously it's a souvenir of the 1902 Coronation."

A Royal Souvenir

Lisa noted that the tin had the initials 'E' and 'A' on the front, along with portraits of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and the date June 1902. She pointed out that the coronation actually took place in August, as Edward had been struck down with appendicitis just days before the original date.

She added that such chocolate tins were common memorabilia given to schoolchildren, and the experts often see "lots and lots and lots of them". Turning to the owner, she asked: "But this one is particularly special isn't? But why is it special? " He opened the tin and replied: "Because the chocolate is still in there," reports the Express.

The Chocolate's Hidden Value

The chocolate bar, still in all its original packaging including foil, captivated Lisa who added: "But that's what makes it a real rarity is the fact it's actually complete with its contents."

While she noted that the tins themselves were quite "really common" and typically sold for £15 to £25, the presence of the chocolate added extraordinary value.

Curious about the guest's thoughts on its worth, his uncertain response prompted her revelation: "Well you may be surprised to know that one of these sold with the chocolate in 2023 at auction for £1,000."

The guest could only express his shock with a simple "Wow! " Lisa expressed her own delight, saying, "And that's the first time for me to see one of these so thank you very much."

A Reflection on a Bygone Era

Reflecting on the era from which the chocolate came, host Fiona Bruce remarked in her commentary: "Just eight years after these bars of chocolate were issued Edward VII was dead and a new king George V was ruling a country on the brink of World War One."

Antiques Roadshow is on BBC One on Sundays and on BBC iPlayer.