1899 Maundy coin set

I stumbled upon this 1899 Maundy coin set from Great Britain and snagged it for $150. I'd seen compilations before at shows for 17th-19th century coins, but they were usually in a VF-XF sort of range. Never saw one in hand in what I believe to be the original box - especially one that looks this nice. As near as I can tell, these 4 coins have been in the box since they were minted. Beautiful shape and they have some nice toning on them -- now I have to decide whether to separate them from their home and slab them or leave them alone like everyone else has...

Thoughts? Is there a market for these sorts of sets or did I just end up with a cool keepsake?

-snewman

 

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I knew nothing about these before now. Simply love the denominations: 1, 2, 3, 4, HIKE! great pick-up--

 

they are worth more in their original box, slabbing is the work of the devil............

 

Very nice and a bargain.
These retail at £180 approx.
However they don't float my currency only collecting habits.

 

Keep them in the original box snewman. I'd think they would be worth more that way like moneyer12 says. While I'm not against slabbing, it just wouldn't seem right to take them out of their original holders and bury them in plastic. I don't know if the $150 you paid for them is a fair price or not but if I were looking to add something like this to my collection I would have paid that much. Thanks for the pics and congrats on a great find.

Bruce

 

this is a very nice set and collectable,they would have been handed out by queen victoria to a poor person !! on maundy thursday,a british tradition which goes back many hundreds of years and is still done today,only today they are given by the queen to people who have worked for the church.please do not seperate from the box or slab them,queen victoria would not be amused !!!!

 

I agree with GDJMSP in that these are mighty cool and that the boxes aren't really what might be termed strictly original from the Mint. Regardless, I like the set very much and if I had the opportunity to purhcase it I would have done so, too.

 

Never knew about the coins but they do look nice. As far as keeping them in the box, I would say thats up to you. They may look nice when toned, but if they keep toning it will eventually turn black and crusty. Keep an eye on them and if you decide to take them out, store them in airitites but still keep the box on hand.

 

Thanks all for the insight/history and suggestions! Maybe airtites inside the box would be a good idea.

Saw on ebay, someone sold the empty box for over $50.. crazy..

 

I don't think that's crazy. I have a 1901 set that I would love to have a period box for. Your set is sweet with that box. Nice pick up. Someone would prob give twice what you paid for the set in its current condition. Jmo

 

I to collect Maundy set.
Til a few years ago they were cheap . But the mintage are low on a few dates finding them is what I hunt.
Boxed gem bu sets are were the $ is.

*****
Doug info is spot on as what our British buddys would Say!
:thumb:

 

Others have said most of what needs to be said here!

Definitely keep them in the box, whatever else you do to prevent them over toning. There are lots of Maundy collectors in the UK, and the majority want them in their boxes whenever possible - which is why empty boxes also command a high price.

Your price was very good - usually a set like that would sell over here for £120 to £150, so something like USD 180 to USD 230.

Just to clear up the issuing of these - yes they are handed out by the Queen (or King) on Maundy Thursday. Tradition now has it that they hand out a number of sets corresponding to the number of years they have reigned. HOWEVER they have also always been available to purchase from the Royal Mint - in the past through the banks, and in more recent times direct. It is these sets that are issued in the boxes. So the box you have is contemporary, but would not have been touched by Queen Victoria.

 

Beautiful set!

Question: Do people here collect Maundy sets?

In an past post, someone mentioned that earlier Maundy coinage was used as everyday coinage (and not just collected). Is that true? I would be interested in these coins if they were involved in daily transactions. If they are like pattern coins and only collected, I have less interest.

I usually see the prices listed for the complete set. For earlier coins (pre-1800), does anyone collect just individual pieces? Getting a complete set might be difficult. I've seen some nice Charles II and George II individual Maundy coins.

The 2010 Spinks lists the 1899 set unc as 120 pounds and the XF 85.

Great set.

guy

 

To answer the questions:

I don't know if many people collect Maundy in the US - I would hope so! They are attractive and interesting.

Yes Maundy was also circulation coinage in the past. The usual cut off date used is 1800 - prior to that all denominations 1, 2, 3, and 4 penny were used in circulation. Around 1800, and certainly by 1816, the 1 and 4 were issued in Maundy sets only, however the threepence was issued at a lesser grade but still silver right up to 1945. The silver twopence basically became Maundy only at the same time as the 1 and 4, BUT two circulation years were also issued 1838 and 1848.

Two further confuse matters a different style of Fourpence was issued through most of the 19th century - it has Britannia on the back instead of the number 4, so easily distinguished.

Yes people do collect these individually as well as in sets. I personally am with you - I am only interested in circulation coinage, so I have worked on getting all the pre-1800 silver threepences and fourpences. (Only a few gaps left!) The Charles II and James II are particularly attractive. Also look out for the 1792 coins which have a much finer numeral on the back.

Finally, the 2010 Spinks price is not far out, but prices for these keep going up, and they do not allow for the box, which adds noticeably to the desirability of a set.

Hope that helps!

 

Thanks for the info. :thumb:

guy

 

Cool set.

 

in 1899 queen victoria was 79 years old--so 79 men AND 79 WOMEN RECEIVED 79 PENCE OF MAUNDY MONEY.TOTAL MINTAGE PENNY 17,402 TWO PENCE 14,514 THREE PENCE NOT KNOWN--FOUR PENCE 13,561-----IT IS UNLIKELY THAT MAUNDY COINS EVER CIRCULATED,MINTAGE AND COINS TOO SMALL.--MY INFORMATION FROM BOOK SILVER PENNIES & LINEN TOWELS BY BRIAN ROBINSON--YOUR SET IS SUPERB YOU ARE LUCKY TO FIND SUCH A NICE SET IN A BOX-WELL DONE

 

Resurrecting an old thread, but I realized that my 5 free grading coupon from NGC was about to expire. Risking an eternity in hades for taking the set out of the box, I sent it in. Website says that it is in grading now, so I'll soon have the scores... Expecting 65s/66s. I also sent in a 1681 2 pence piece that I'm hoping for an AU on. Will let you know.

 

Very excited to hear that the 1681 came back as real and at an AU level.

The 1899 set came back as 65/66/66/66.

It is now the #1 set on NGC's registry (out of 2 total sets).

Quite pleased all around! Thanks again for the comments and history!