Any Maundy money collectors?

Is anyone on this forum seriously into Maundy money?

I'm getting into UK coins and I feel like I've been bitten by the bug. I mean, why be another Morgan dollar collector when you can collect something different, something unknown to most US collectors? You can collect something directly associated with the ruler of Great Britain at an affordable price!

Maundy money defines history and the challenge of the hunt. The history behind these coins is just great, and there are so many dates and denominations in this "megaseries" that it can actually be very hard to find specific ones, not to mention only a few thousand of each denomination were made every year.

A couple days ago, I ordered an 1839 fourpence on Ebay. I posted pictures in another thread, but here they are again:



The coin will take a few weeks to arrive, because of economy shipping from eastern Canada, but I'm happy nontheless. It only cost $14 for this piece of history with 4125 minted.

Between Seated half dimes and Maundy money, I guess you could say that I really like small silver.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I also love these tiny silver coins - here is a 1902 2 Pence I picked up for a decently cheap price at the LCS - plus it has a nice doubled date!

​

Side note: just going through an album I purchased a while ago, found a tiny plastic envelope tucked in the front pocket and pulled it out...

Voila! 1902 1/3 Farthing! Mintage of 288,000:

 

Maundy money was made to be given as gifts by the Royal family at Christmas right? Or am I confused? I remember reading about it years ago and thinking it sounded very cool.

That is a sweet OP example, great toning and just looks like history.

John

 

I just read about Maundy money for the first time. It has a fascinating history.

 

The coins are distributed on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday (and a few days before Easter Sunday). The date commemorates Jesus Christ’s last supper and the initiation of Holy Communion. Various churches mark the date differently: The British queen/king (as head of the Church of England) distributes gifts to the poor (including the special maundy coins), The Pope has a ceremonial washing of the feet of the poor (again emulating Christ before the last supper), provide food and various gifts (altho not specially designated coins), etc.

The total value of maundy coins distributed equals the Queen/Kings' age. As I recall the coins are distributed in leather pouches (altho I think the coins are sealed in some sort of holders) and all of the various pieces distributed at the event are highly collectible.

I agree that this is a great series and would be fun to put together a type set back to the 1600s (or so). I have a few complete date sets and a number of "odds" (i.e., individual coins) but something always more interesting came along which diverted my attention and money so have never made much of an effort to "do" the series seriously.

 

Hello, cool coins! Any book about this series?

Thanks..

 

If you google "Maundy Money" you'll get a good selection of articles, including a nice summary by the BRM picturing a more recent issue of QE 2, the pouches which are distributed with the coins, a list of places where the ceremonies took place in the recent past, etc. I thought there was a small, out of print, book on these but it's not in my library nor could I find a citation quickly online. You probably could find the cite with a bit more diligent searching than I put in this am.

What fun!

 

I did a search for that book at Bookfinder.com and it turned up nothing at all. So it probably is very hard to find a copy now.

 

Just to add to the above - although Maundy coins are distributed by the Monarch on Maundy Thursday, that is not the only source of them. In modern times they are also issued as collectors pieces by the Royal Mint in various sets. In the past (up until about WW2 I think) any collector could also order a set from their bank.

Individual coins only make good money when in excellent condition (AU and above). The ideal for most serious collectors is get a matched set - consistent in wear and tone and ideally in the boxes issued at the time.

 

I will look out for them from now on.

Cool.

 

I recently purchased a collection of British coins that had 6 Maundy sets (5 actual plus 1 put together set from before Maundy Sets "started"). I've never had a set before but I do like how they are toned similarly across all 4 coins. I would agree that 4 random coins that did not have that quality would be less appealing.

 

I almost bought a 1/3 farthing. beautiful but, a details coin, had a staple scratch.
I was sad. about it.

 

I have just this little example.

 

1/3 farthings are not Maundy Money. They did not even circulate in Britain. They were for use in the colonies.

 

Correct. There was quite a range of small coins issued during the Victorian era that were primarily for use in the colonies though also legal tender in the UK. Some issues of the Threepence, which is broadly similar to the Maundy threepence but struck to a slightly lower standard, were issued only in the colonies but were indistinguishable from the UK issues except by date. These are now the premium dates for 3d collectors.


This image gives you an idea of scale compared to a US Cent. The Twopence shown here is very similar to the Maundy Twopence but is a circulation issue made in ony two years - 1838 and 1848 (from memory).
The 1 1/2 pence coin was known as a "Three ha'pence".
The Quarter farthings, which were only issued in 4 years, are a difficult set to complete. Some of the three ha'pences are almost impossible.

 

Interesting...after doing some reading, seems my 1/3 Farthing was produced only for use in Malta (where the cost of living was lower) and that the mintage number of 288,000 equaled 100 pounds worth. Didn't mean to derail the OP thread (I promise!) Just sharing my similar affection for tiny, tiny coins.

 

1683 Charles II 3 pence PCGS VF35


1824 George IV 1 pence


1922 4 pence