The original coins were 0.925 silver.The fineness was reduced to 0.500 in 1921.Then in 1947 all silver was removed from everyday coinage.Cupronical was then used.Maundy money however was restored at that time to silver fineness of 0.925 which is still being used today.
The obverses of the coinage changed according to the reigning monarch.
MAUNDY COINS - Obverses
1822-1830 .Left-facing head of King George 1V. GEORGIUS 1111 D GBRITANNIAR REX F D .( GEORGE 1V by the grace of god king of britain,defender of the faith )
All maundy sets of this reign use Pistruccis bust of the monarch.
The bust of the 1822 3d is the same size as that on the 2d.The first dies of the 3d broke and there was not enough time to reproduce the die.
The dies for the Reverse were produced by Jean Baptiste Merlen.
1831-1837 .Right-facing head of King William 1V. GULIELMUS 1111 D G BRITANNIAR REX F D.( WILLIAM 1V by the grace of god king of britain,defender of the faith )
William Wyon engraving for the bust was used.
The Reverse was designed by Merlen.
1838 - 1887 .Left-facing "Young Head" of Queen Victoria. VICTORIA D G BRITANNIAR REGINA F D .( VICTORIA by the grace of god queen of britain,defender of the faith)
The obverse was engraved by Wyon and the reverse designed by Merlen.
1888-1892 .Left-facing "Jubilee Head" of Queen Victoria. VICTORIA D G BRITANNIAR REGINA F D . ( Victoria by the grace of god queen of britain,defender of the faith )
The obverse was designed by Joseph Edgar Boehm.The reverse was designed by Merlen.
1893-1901 .Left-facing "Old head" of Queen Victoria . VICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP.( Victoria by the grace of god queen of britain,defender of the faith,empress of India )
The old Head bust was designed by Thomas Brock.Otherwise no other changes in this period.
1902-1910 .Right-facing head of King Edward V11. EDWARDVS V11 D BRITT OMN REX F D IND IMP (Edward V11 by the grace of god king of all the britains,defender of the faith,emperor of India).
The bust was desiged by G.W.DeSailles.
1911-1936 . Left-facing head of King George V. GEORGIVS V D G BRITT OMN REX F D IND IMP (George V by the grace of god King of all the britains,defender of the faith,emperor of India).
Four different types in this reign.
Bust designed by Bertram Mackennal.
1937-1948 .Left-facing head of King George V1. GEORGIVS V1 D G BR OMN REX F D IND IMP (George V1 by the grace of god King of all the britains,defender of the faith)
T.Humphrey Pagets bust was used for these coins.
1949-1952 .Left-facing head of King George V1. GEORGIVS D G BR OMN REX FIDEI DEF (George V1 by the grace of god King of all the britains,defender of the faith)
1953 .Right-facing head of Queen Elizabeth 11. ELIZABETH 11 DEI GRA BRITT OMN REGINA F D (Elizabeth 11 by the grace of god Queen of all the britains,defender of the faith)
Mary Gillicks design for the bust was used.
1954 .Current Right-facing head of Queen Elizabeth 11.ELIZABETH 11DEI GRATIA REGINA F D (Elizabeth11 by the grace of god Queen,defender of the faith)
After decimalisation of coinage in Britain in 1971 the maundy coinage values were merely changed to new pence --1p, 2p, 3p and 4p.
