It’s all about the Maundy

19th February 2025

Maundy Money Ceremony

The word Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum meaning mandate or more widely referred to as command.

The Maundy service takes place the Thursday before Good Friday and commemorates Jesus’s act of washing his disciple's feet before the Last Supper.

The recipients are now always pensioners to represent the long service they have devoted to the Christian church and community.

Maundy Ceremonies date back to medieval times and used to involve the King giving out food, clothes and wine. Later he gave money to the poor and washed the poor’s feet, imitating Jesus’s washing of his disciple's feet.

Flowers and herbs were used to ward off infections but with disease and ill health, washing of feet became less frequent and stopped in the 18th century. Flowers, often posies, are still used today though, in symbolism to the past. The washing of the feet was re-introduced with occasionally the monarch taking part, but often it would be a member of the Church.

Westminster used to hold the Maundy Service and did so for 60 years before Queen Elizabeth II decided to change the location each year, so more people were able to take part in the celebration.

The earliest British Maundy coins we know of date back to the early milled coinage of Charles II with an undated four-coin set. The earliest dated sets start from 1670 and include a 4d, 3d, 2d, and 1d. Ordinary circulated money was used in the Maundy Ceremony until 1751 when silver Maundy Money was minted especially for the service.

One penny is given for each year the monarch has lived, and the money is presented in leather pouches called purses. The Monarch is accompanied by the Yeomen of the Guard who dress in fine robes representative of the dress in Tudor Times.

The colour of the purses has changed over the years but since 1979 red and white purses have been used with an additional monetary gift in place of food, clothing and wine. The stoppage of such gifts is believed to have happened due to the poor fighting over clothing.

Designs have changed over the centuries but in circa 1952 Mary Gillick was the designer of the Maundy Money and the design has not changed since.

There are also presentation cases now for Maundy Money and many variations have been produced. The Maundy Money used to be given in sealed packs, to not damage the coins but is often presented in cases now, still in the leather purses.

We have a very exciting lot coming up in our 22nd February Coins, Medals, Banknotes and Militaria sale. Six Maundy sets and two additional coins from the 1993 Service with service documents including, entry tickets, programme for the day, acceptance letter, newspaper clippings and more. To see the lot description for this lot, head to our Auctions page or to Easy Live auctions to view the full description and to see the photos for this lot.

    

Are you thinking of selling your coin collection or perhaps part of it? Would you like us to value your collection and give you advice on how best to market it? Call us on 01926 499 031 and ask to speak to one of our experts.

 

Jessica Lowe

Back to News Articles