The Numismatic Bibliomania Society

PREV ARTICLE       NEXT ARTICLE       FULL ISSUE       PREV FULL ISSUE      

V26 2023 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 26, Number 15, April 9, 2023, Article 30

KING CHARLES DISTRIBUTES 2023 MAUNDY COINS

On Good Friday David Pickup wrote:

"The King distributed Maundy to 74 men and 74 women yesterday. The number of recipients matches his age and thy were given two purses. A red one with two commemorative coins and a white one with the silver coins.

"It is the only occasion when the monarch goes to people to make gifts not the other way round."

David passed along this as-it-happened BBC article about the ancient service. Thank you! -Editor

  Maundy Ceremony 2023

King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, waved to crowds as they left the Maundy service at York Minster a short time ago.

The royal couple were in the city for the annual service which takes place at a different cathedral across the country every year.

Today, King Charles gave 148 people the special Maundy coins.

Large crowds welcomed the royal couple, with a small anti-monarchy protest taking place nearby.

The King and Queen Consort spoke to people in the crowd before leaving.

How old is the Maundy money tradition?
The Maundy service taking place at York Minster today actually dates back to 600AD.

  Maundy coins of Elizabeth II

Meanwhile, the specially minted coins - like the ones pictured above from the reign of Queen Elizabeth II - have kept much the same form since 1670, according to the official website of the Royal Family.

The first recorded Royal distribution was in 1210 at Knaresborough in North Yorkshire by King John.

For many years, the money was only distributed at cathedrals in London, but Queen Elizabeth II started the tradition of holding the service at venues around the country.

During her 70-year reign, the late-Queen presented Maundy Money at every Anglican cathedral in England.

What's it like to receive Maundy money?
Today, 74 men and 74 women are receiving Maundy money from King Charles in a ceremony at York Minster whose origins date back many centuries.

But what is that like to receive Maundy money from the monarch?

Four years ago, Jean Dale was presented with Maundy money by Queen Elizabeth II for her community and church work.

When the letter arrived on her doormat with "Buckingham Palace" written on the envelope, she jokes that she thought she had "been knighted".

"I was absolutely shattered when I received it. It was a lovely thought," she told BBC Radio York.

During the ceremony, Ms Dale, from Naburn, was told she could only thank the monarch.

However, she says the main issue she had was trying to work out what to wear for the changeable April weather, as well as buying a hat for the day.

Here's an image of the 2023 Red Pouch coins from the Royal Family website. -Editor

  Royal Maundy Service 2023 red_pouch coins

To read the complete articles, see:
As it happened: King in York for Maundy service (https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65179450)
Royal Maundy Service 2023 (https://www.royal.uk/royal-maundy-service-2023)

Sedwick E-Sylum ad Auction 33
 



Wayne Homren, Editor

Google
 
NBS (coinbooks.org) Web

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum

PREV ARTICLE       NEXT ARTICLE       FULL ISSUE       PREV FULL ISSUE      

V26 2023 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

Copyright © 1998 - 2024 The Numismatic Bibliomania Society (NBS)
All Rights Reserved.

NBS Home Page
Contact the NBS webmaster
coin