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.
So, let me understand this, you are elderly and poor so you got these coins? LOL Just joshing you of course. Neat information. Thanks for the post.
Thanks for sharing; the write-up is a concise history lesson. I have a few scattered Maundy issues, but certainly, no nice sets like you have. And I like that you have the cases in which they came.
Yes, the issue cases mean something to me too. All to often they get discarded when the coins are slabbed. Sometimes they are sold separately. When I finished the 1937 George VI gold set, I found an empty case on eBay.
NGC says 3,564 for the PL's so I think half of that for the proofs?Your coin is extremely rare and scarce otherwise.
I figured it is from the 1831 coronation proof set, have heard around 100 to 150 but never been sure. The seller had the set up on eBay a few months ago with a very cheap buy it now price got extremely lucky. But only snagged the 4d as the 3d was a details and 2d and 1d were lower grades. Kinda regret not getting all now.