Maundy 2 pence

[DrP]

Hi all. I'm new here and thought I'd say hi. I mainly collect circulated British pre-decimal coins. I have never purchased any maundy coins, mainly due to the price of them. Are they worth buying if not in sets? I bought a 1938 2 pence from e-bay - mainly because it was under a fiver and i do not have one. The picture looked as though it was in fine condition but a little worn and dull. When i got it it was much better than I thought it was going to be and seems to still have a little lustre on it. :-)  Does have a few small dents in it though on the edges. 

I probably wont buy any more of them unless I get spare money and see a bargain, but that don't happen too often. How come they get separated from their sets? I thought they were only issued in sets, I didn't think they got spent that much. 

[Nordle11]

Welcome to the forum DrP, it seems everyone must've been at the pub when you first posted, don't be disheartened by the lack of responses  They'll be along soon enough.

I don't know too much about collecting maundy, although a set of my birth year is certainly on the list. I'm not too sure why people would separate the sets but I suppose needs must and it's got to happen to some of them.

Well done on picking up the 2 pence for a fiver though, not too shabby at all.

 

[Rob]

Although maundy money is mostly found in sets, there is usually an odd number of loose coins due to the distribution reflecting the age of the monarch. Some people also break sets up, the 3d being the denomination most removed from sets, and usually the same one has to be checked when buying sets because people reconstitute them using a currency 3d in lieu.

As to whether they are worth buying individually will depend on what you want. If you want to rebuild sets, then it is a labour of love. Trying to match the toning in a made up set is nigh impossible. If you just want an example of each type, then buying a set is the easiest way. You shouldn't be disheartened by the price of sets. Many people refuse to pay more than £xx for anything, but a coin or set doesn't suddenly become worthless just because you have bought it. Properly looked after, it will retain its value in line with the market.

Edited April 20, 2016 by Rob

[Gary D]

I have a date run from 1900 to 1967 and I have bought one or two loose but tried to stick to sets as much as possible. As said by Rob Maundy coins were not issue as sets and the boxes were sold as an extra should the recipient wish to buy one or two, they may have been given one free. If you do make up a set a quick dip will sort out any toning issues.

[copper123]

you could try a run of any date maundy coin of all the kings and queens from victoria to elizabeth that would be fun and quite cheap - if you are not bothered by grade  you could pick up plenty maundy singles  it would not take you long - remember maundy odds are very cheap on their own the value is in having a full set in ef- unc grade

[Gary D]

4 hours ago, copper123 said:

you could try a run of any date maundy coin of all the kings and queens from victoria to elizabeth that would be fun and quite cheap - if you are not bothered by grade  you could pick up plenty maundy singles  it would not take you long - remember maundy odds are very cheap on their own the value is in having a full set in ef- unc grade

Apart from the 1953 set which could cost you £800-1000.

[DrP]

Thanks all...  I was thinking after reading above - what is the difference with the maundy 3d and the ordinary silver 3d? How easy is it to tell the difference?

 

 

[DrP]

Also - I'm not completely sure about your forum etiquette yet, so I'll ask here, If i have a question about a coin or coins I have bought, should I ask them here in this thread or start a new one? I found 2 x 1926 pennies with modified effigies in a bag of about 30 1926 pennies and was wondering about them...  I quite like them so I might keep one for my collection and sell the other. :-)

[mrbadexample]

Welcome DrP. There are threads on pennies, and a sales board so you could take your pick.

[Nordle11]

Yes anything penny related, this thread is a good place to start. If it's a penny purchase that you're particularly proud of, put up a post in here.

Otherwise you have regular threads like "Coin acquisition of the week" or you can always just start your own one, no problem.

[Gary D]

10 hours ago, DrP said:

Thanks all...  I was thinking after reading above - what is the difference with the maundy 3d and the ordinary silver 3d? How easy is it to tell the difference?

It depends. I'm sure an expert will come along but for the earlier sets, say pre-Victorian they were the same as with the other 3 coins. At some point Maundy coins became proof like and in some instances the dies were different to the currecy coin.

 

 

[Nutsaboutcoins]

On 4/20/2016 at 8:34 AM, Rob said:

Although maundy money is mostly found in sets, there is usually an odd number of loose coins due to the distribution reflecting the age of the monarch.

Having seen a full set (ie all of the coins given to one individual) I was surprised to find that there wasn't an even number or each denomination + a few odds there were far more of one denomination (2 pence if I remember correctly). So there will not be as many "full sets" as the age of the Monarch would imply. 

It begs the question, in any given year do all of the recipients receive the same mix of coins or does one recipient get a glut of 1p / 1d and another get a glut of 2, 3 or 4?  Anyone know?  

[davidrj]

45 minutes ago, Nutsaboutcoins said:

Having seen a full set (ie all of the coins given to one individual) I was surprised to find that there wasn't an even number or each denomination + a few odds there were far more of one denomination (2 pence if I remember correctly). So there will not be as many "full sets" as the age of the Monarch would imply. 

It begs the question, in any given year do all of the recipients receive the same mix of coins or does one recipient get a glut of 1p / 1d and another get a glut of 2, 3 or 4?  Anyone know?  

Here's the set my Mum got from HRH in 2004, full sets of each denomination, plus 2 extra 4ps

Edited April 21, 2016 by davidrj

[Nutsaboutcoins]

Nice set David, thanks for posting, and to have a family link, even better. 

The set I have seen was purchased by a friend, I'll find out what his set includes.  

[copper123]

Heres a question for you are the maundy coins before 1970 of pre decimal value and are the coins after that date issued  as decimal pence

I doubt if anyone whould ever try and spend one really BUT THEY MIGHT!

Perhaps a question for the mint itself

[Rob]

Yes, their value was changed to reflect the adoption of New Pence.

A touch of realism perhaps in recognising that nobody would ever spend them as face value coins, yet equally recognising the history and their place as a tangible gift that could be spent, having a face value.

[davidrj]

1 hour ago, Rob said:

A touch of realism perhaps in recognising that nobody would ever spend them as face value coins

Though the attempt may well be made, the recipients are always elderly. My late Mum was sadly demented when she received the Royal Maundy, we didn't even know she had been selected till after the event, she had no recollection of it, we found the coins and documents much later when she went into care, scattered around the house. Although she may not to our knowledge have attempted to spend her Maundy coins, she did attempt to pay a bill with old £1 premium bond certificates

[copper123]

Very sad , she never really enjoyed the coins then did she - so much good work ,but I surpose the coins did get passed down so you have a great momento there now too remember her with.

[Nutsaboutcoins]

12 hours ago, Rob said:

Yes, their value was changed to reflect the adoption of New Pence.

A touch of realism perhaps in recognising that nobody would ever spend them as face value coins, yet equally recognising the history and their place as a tangible gift that could be spent, having a face value.

I'm sure the Royal Mint would come out with the same old bull of "These coins are Legal Tender, they are not intended for use in transactions and banks don't have to take them, blah, blah, blah"  

That said I'm sure a number of the £5 & especially the 50p coins which are also distributed along with the maundy money get spent.

Ian..  

[DrP]

here is my 2d.  I bought another one too (although I said I wouldn't).. 

[DrP]

here's the other - 1679 2d..  a bit worn... possibly Fair condition.

[DrP]

The pair. - about £22.00. Maybe paid too much for the older one, but it looks nice in my folder. :-)