Maundy Set Pictures - (Warning to Dial-uppers!)

Newmismatist · November 14, 2004 5:36AM

Sorry about the fuzzy pictures - best I can do so far

Sylvestius · November 14, 2004 5:50AM

Oww i like the Geo III one best.

Now this might sound like a stupid question, but are the boxes original? (i'm not doubting the Victorian plus ones i any way), but i'd be interested to know if the 1800 box is contemporary?

If so there's nothing like an 18th century box full of coins is there?

Newmismatist · November 14, 2004 5:56AM

My guess is the box was made later for the coins. I think that may be true of all the boxes because the coins were "given away" without boxes and then the receipients would sell them to the local coin dealers (Spink being the most prominent) My guess is that Spink (or the other coin sellers) then had boxes made up for the coins and they sold them to the collectors. Here's the outside of the 1800 box:

Sylvestius · November 14, 2004 6:17AM

My dial up is cursing me right now...

Anyhow of interest to you;

As far as i am aware Maundy money was distibuted in two ways (up until about 1909 ish?).

Firstly some was given out by representatives (and later the monarch) to recipients, usually in maundy bags.

Secondly the remaining was available at banks to be bought a probably face value (maybe just over) and these came in boxes.

The rectangular boxes were later replaced by some of the octagonal boxes you have shown.

So i think the later boxes are contemporary to the coins. I didn't know about the 18th century one but as you say the Spinks bit makes you think maybe not.