Our featured item today is a rare 1927 Great Britain, George V - Maundy Set with its original Royal Mint case . These outstanding proof-like strikes are in mint state condition with colourful toning. The case is solid with a full functioning clasp and only some minor damage to the top of the lid commensurate with age and wear.
Maudy money refers to coins that were given to elderly people by the monarch in a ceremonies that drew inspiration from the New Testament and the commandment Christ was said to have given after washing the feet of his disciples. The commandment, also known as the 'mandatum': "that ye love one another" (John XIII 34) meant that by the fourth century monarchs would wash the feet of the poor and hand out gifts of food and clothing to those in need.
The giving of coins in Maundy ceremonies can be dated to King John in 1213 but becomes more regularly observed in later reigns. Henry IV begins the practice of relating the number of recipients of gifts to the monarch's age, and as it became the custom of the monarch to perform the ceremony, the event because known as the Royal Maundy.
The Maundy ceremony as we know it today first took place in the reign of Charles II, when the King gave people undated hammered coins in 1662. The specially struck coins were a four penny, three penny, two penny and one penny piece.
1927 Great Britain, George V - Maudy Money Set in original Royal Mint case.
This set includes:
1927 - 1 pence, .500 silver, 0.47 grams, KM#811a
1927 - 2 pence, .500 silver, 0.94 grams, KM#812a
1927 -3 pence, .500 silver, 1.41 grams, KM#813a
1927 - 4 pence, .500 silver, 1.89 grams, KM#814a
Set KM# MSD185
