Thomas Snelling (1712 – 2 May 1773) was an English numismatist.
Snelling carried on business as a coin dealer and bookseller at 163 Fleet Street, London, next to the Horn Tavern (later the Anderton's Hotel).[1] The 1756 Newbury Hoard came into his possession. He discussed it in his 1762 work on silver coins.[2][3]
Snelling's name occurs as a purchaser at London coin-sales c.1766; and among his numismatic customers was William Hunter the anatomist.[1] Another of his customers was the Rev. Joseph Kilner, who built up a collection that he left to Merton College.[4] Snelling died on 2 May 1773, and his son, also Thomas Snelling, carried on business as a printseller at the same address, and published posthumously two of his father's works.[1]
Snelling's coins, medals, and antiques were sold by auction at Langford's, Covent Garden, 21–24 January 1774. The coins were principally Greek and Roman.[1]
There are three portrait medals of Snelling in the British Museum, by G. Rawle, Lewis Pingo, and John Kirk. A portrait of him was drawn and engraved by John Thane, 1770, and William Tassie made a medallion of him. There is also a medallion in the Tassie series of his daughter.[1]
Snelling wrote and published many treatises on British coins. The plates of his View of the Silver Coin … of England are coarsely executed, but Edward Hawkins (Silver Coins) praised them for their fidelity. On the title-pages and plates of his books Snelling usually inserted the advertisement: "Who buys and sells all sorts of coins and medals."[1]
Snelling's works are as follows:[1]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wroth, Warwick William (1898). "Snelling, Thomas". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 53. London: Smith, Elder & Co.