“Maundy Money” by Sir Thomas Brock

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Maundy Money

Sir Thomas Brock, K.C.B., R.A. 1847-1922

1897

Collection: John Sankey, who retains copyright.

The Royal Mint site explains: “It seems to have been the custom as early as the thirteenth century for members of the royal family to take part in Maundy ceremonies, to distribute money and gifts, and to recall Christ's simple act of humility” by washing the feet of the poor.” [continued below]

Photograph by George P. Landow. [Click twice on image to enlarge it.]

Henry IV began the practice of relating the number of recipients of gifts to the sovereign's age, and as it became the custom of the sovereign to perform the ceremony, the event became known as the Royal Maundy.

The beginning of Maundy money In the eighteenth century the act of washing the feet of the poor was discontinued and in the nineteenth century money allowances were substituted for the various gifts of food and clothing.

Maundy money as such started in the reign of Charles II with an undated issue of hammered coins in 1662. The coins were a four penny, three penny, two penny and one penny piece but it was not until 1670 that a dated set of all four coins appeared. Prior to this, ordinary coinage was used for Maundy gifts, silver pennies alone being used” by the Tudors and Stuarts for the ceremony.

Bibliography

“Maundy Money: a symbolic gift from the sovereign on Maundy Thursday.” The Royal Mint. Web. 30 April 2014.

Last modified 30 April 2014