The Maundy Coins
Maundy coins cosist of a 1d, 2d, 3d and 4d.
The Maundy coins are detailed below. The size and design of the coins and also the reverse have not changed since 1822.
1 penny ---- Weight 0.5 grams. Diameter 11 millimetres.
2 pence ---- Weight 0.9 grams. Diameter 13 millimetres.
3 pence ---- Weight 1.4 grams. Diameter 16 millimetres.
4 pence ---- Weight 1.9 grams. Diameter 18 millimetres.
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 IV.
GEORGIUS IIII D G BRITANNIAR REX F D. (GEORGE IV 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 IV.
GULIELMUS 1111 D G BRITANNIAR REX F D. (WILLIAM IV 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 VII.
EDWARDVS VII D BRITT OMN REX F D IND IMP (Edward VII 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 VI.
GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX F D IND IMP (George VI by the grace of god King of all the britains, defender of the faith, emperor of India)
T. Humphrey Pagets bust was used for these coins.
1949 - 1952 Left-facing head of King George VI.
GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX FIDEI DEF (George VI by the grace of god King of all the britains, defender of the faith)
1953 Right-facing head of Queen Elizabeth II.
ELIZABETH II DEI GRA BRITT OMN REGINA F D (Elizabeth II 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 II.
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D (Elizabeth II 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.
1998 Elizabeth II maundy set
Maundy Coinage Mintage figures 1952 - 2014
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