Dunhill: Shell Briar with JFK Coin Silver Cap (5103) (2015) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's "03" shape is an iconic rendition of the straight Billiard, and it's a demonstration of all the elements that make that shape a classic, rendered by one of the most recognizable pipe making brands in the world. Here, it's part of a series that celebrates the life and works of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, featuring a 50-cent coin with the likeness of Kennedy inlaid into a hinged silver wind cap at the bowl. Said bowl is nicely curvaceous, and its walls take on a slight taper to the rim from its low-set waist, with a rounded heel supporting the structure as it makes a slight forward cant. The transition is wide, with plenty of room to drape a digit, and it gives way to a short, trim shank met by a sleekly tapering stem of jet-black vulcanite. Limited to 50 total examples, this pipe is dressed in the brand's iconic Shell Briar sandblast, its black stain contrasted elegantly by the silver tones of the line's wind cap.

The Shell Briar's addition to the Dunhill catalog was a pivotal moment in pipe-smoking history. Before 1917, pipes with sandblasted finishes had never been made, and Alfred Dunhill's innovative mind created arguably the most popular finish for pipes today when he unveiled the Shell Briar. With its dark, reserved color palette and delightful texture, it's no surprise that it's still wildly popular over a century later.