It's Maundy Thursday. Post your Maundy sets.

This is Maundy Thursday, which is the date the King of England distributes Maundy sets to selcted individuals. Here is the text of a post I published in recent years:

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 is 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 four sets, two of which were included in coronation sets. Here they are.

1786



Part of a 1902 coronation set.



Part of a 1937 coronation set.



A 1979 set.

 

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I never knew of this custom. I am elderly and I work in my church. I think I am due. Ha!!

 

This my only Maundy Money set.

 

My only Maundy coin, a 1907 Fourpence:



I like that it's lightly circulated, considering the purpose of the Maundy Thursday ceremony.

 

I have a four piece 1838 (first year of reign for Victoria) out for grading right now.

 

The image from this 1800, George III Maundy penny was used for this counterstamped Spanish Dollar for the 1800s. This was one way the British tired to relieve their coin shortage at the time by using this shortcut to melting the coins down and using the recovered silver for new British coins. The previous pieces had had a smaller counterstamp which was quickly counterfeited.





These counterstamped Spanish dollars were none too popular in England. The limerick at the time went "The Bank (of England) to get its money to pass stamped the head of a fool on the neck of an ass." Since these pieces were assigned a value of 4 shillings and 9 pence, another quip was "Two king's heads, but not a crown." A crown was worth 5 shillings.

 

I used to have a bunch of these. Was working on a "one per ruler" set. Ended up not finishing the set because I wanted to concentrate on other things.

This one was part of the Millennium Set.

 

Amazing collection, that counter stamped 8 Reales with Charles IIII is bada$$!

 

This custom took the place of the king getting down on his knees and washing the beggars’ feet.