The British coinage system was badly in need of an overhaul before Napoleon started terrorizing Europe. The Tower of London Mint was badly antiquated and, aside from gold coinage, the issues of coins that "the common people" needed was sorely lacking. Napoleon's wars made things worse. The British sent large quantities of gold to the continent to finance wars against Napoleon that didn't work out. Coinage was suspended for guinea, which had been the workhorse coin for the rich merchants and ruling classes. Only smaller gold coins, the half guinea and third guinea were issued. From what I've understood, they were used for the Bank of England to pay interest in accounts. After Waterloo, which ended Napoleon's conquests once and for all, England finally reformed their monetary system. The weight of the silver coins was reduced to the point where the coins had a melt value that was less than their face value. Thereafter the coins stayed in circulation. The guinea, which was worth 21 shillings, was replaced by the sovereign which was worth 20 shillings. The proportionate amount of gold was not reduced, but the coin had a value that was an even number. Finally the minting operation was moved to Town Hill, where there were nice new Bolton and Watt presses which made better coins faster. I never set out to put this group of coins together at first, but some coins gradually "came to me" and then I finished off the type set. The crown was the last piece, which I received today. Here they are. This is just a "nice collector's set" which pleases me. There are no super grade coins, but there are not any "junkie coins" either. Sixpence. Shilling "Bull Head" Half Crown. This view of King George III was different from the others and was not well received. "Small Head" Half Crown Crown (five shillings) These coins can bring some very high prices at auction. This one came with an envelop which had a record of prior sales on it. It has been called EF, AU and "cleaned." It's been dipped, but not cleaned. It has enough luster to call it an AU-53 or 55 by U.S. grading standards. The British call it "EF." Half Sovereign Gold Coin Sovereign It is interesting to note that the British did not need to change the weight and composition their silver coins for the next century. The sovereign has not changed to this day, but, of course, it is now a bullion and collector coin which is worth far more than its face value.
Do you have any interest to expand the set with Maundy pieces? They aren't easy with George III, but some of the George IIII pieces are a bit more available. Here is my 1824 George IIII 1 Pence. Mintage of 9,504
I am thinking about it, but if I did, it would be no more than one set. When did Maundy coins really become collectors' items? It seems like the coins were spent in the 17th and 18th centuries.
I would say right about post Napoleon era. Seems that is when they started designating them as proof or proof like. Also seems when they started keeping track of mintage figures about that time too. Here is a blurb from Numista about the subject: Before the Great Recoinage of 1817, there is no known evidence to suggest that separate 'prooflike' strikes were issued for the Maundy ceremony, suggesting that the money handed out was identical to the circulating coinage at that time. Here is my 1683 Maundy 3 Pence of Charles II. No way of knowing if it was ever handed out for the ceremony, but probably just spent judging from its wear.
"When did Maundy coins really become collectors' items? It seems like the coins were spent in the 17th and 18th centuries." I have always worked on the basis that up to about 1797 when the first copper pennies were introduced, the silver "Maundy" coins were in circulation. From then until the new silver threepences and fourpences came out in the 1830s, all the smaller silvers were presentation only. So focusing on your post-Napoleon circulation coinage you could include these threepences and fourpences, as well as the workaday standards - farthings, halfpennies and pennies - without expending a great deal. Herewith threepence, farthing, halfpenny and penny: Of course you could then extend to the fractional farthings - but these were really only intended for use in the colonies, so may be stretching too far!
It seems as if the prior to 1817 Maundy coins were used as coins of the realm. I don't know how much of a role they really played in commerce, but it was obvious that there was an acute coin shortage in England at that time. The proof? Many, many Condor tokens, and not all of them were collector's items. According to one book I have, this one started the Condor series.
