Maundy Thursday ... Maundy Sets
BillJones
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Today is Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Good Friday and Easter Sunday. In England, the monarch gives money, in the form of silver coins to elderly people who are selected based upon their poverty and their service to their churches or community. Recipients may also be selected by clergyman of the various Christian denominations. Once selected a recipient remains one for life. New recipients are selected each year.
The gifts are given in two purses. The white one holds Maundy money in the one, two, three and four pence denominations. There one pence for each year of the monarch's life. A red purse contains £5 and a 50 p coin.
The modern Maundy coins do not circulate because their silver value exceeds their face value. Each coin has the portrait of the monarch on the obverse. and the value 1, 2, 3 or 4 partially surrounded by a wreath, the date and a crown on the reverse. These coins are highly prized by many collectors.
I have only two sets of Maundy coins which are included in coronation sets. The first a 1902 Edward VII "short set." This set goes up the the half sovereign and sovereign gold coins. The full set includes the two and five pound gold pieces. These coins are Matte Proofs.
The exterior of the box.
My other set was issued for George VI in 1937.
I know that some of you have some Maundy sets and would like to share them.
Comments
I need to take more pictures but here is the smallest: 0,47 grams, 11 mm:
Coinsof1984@martinb6830 on twitter
Very nice Bill, and a great tradition.
https://www.royal.uk/maundy-thursday
"Given the current circumstances, the Royal Maundy Service 2021 could not go ahead this year.
Instead the Maundy money was blessed at the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, before being posted to recipients alongside a letter from The Queen. This meant recipients could still receive their Maundy money and purses, and instead mark the special occasion from their homes."
I have a 1936 set, which were distributed by King Edward VIII. But they show his father's portrait, George V, who passed away in January of that year.
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
An 1854 Proof 4d. I do not have the set.
Looking forward to that April Numismatist!
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Yes, it's a very nice article and a very good read.
My “empire”. Trying to put together a run of one set each per monarch in uncleaned bright white, which is getting harder as the sets get older
Is the article about the Coin Shop Killer about Charles Sinclair?
No, it’s about the cover story on the April “The Numismatist.”
I had to google that. The Wiki was disturbing and sad. I'll be interested in reading that too. Hopefully that is the ONLY case that fits the description.
thats a nice set
1838 set in proof
noice
It's from a Heritage sale long ago.
Just came across this post.
This 1732 Penny is my lone example at the moment, but I am on the look out for more
These are special coins with a truly historic legacy, imo. Btw, the article in the April 2021 issue of "The Numismatist" (as posted earlier in this thread) is a great read that will explain the series and offer interesting information for anyone trying to learn more about these coins. GREAT post @BillJones
Prince Charles handed out the maundy set this year, the first one Queen Elizabeth has missed since 1970.
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
Here's a set I will be sending for grading soon... sorry for the bad photos. I think the 1p may get a details grade.
I’ll have to pull out my issue and read the article that I somehow didn’t at the time. Fabulous coins.
First Maundy coins with the new monarch.
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
I've always wondered why Elizabeth II's portrait was never updated on the Maundy coins.
It was probably not a priority, and those tiny coins are not the easiest to redesign. On top of that, they don’t circulate, and the collector market for them probably doesn’t care.
This is a great numismatic area and worth pursuing at some level- even if it is on a very limited scale. Currently I look for older sets but nice examples are not that easy to find. My earliest set is Charles II and my last set is George V. I would like to get a George VI set from either 1939 or 1945
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