Fourpence 1939 (Maundy), Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Fourpence 1939 (Maundy), Coin from United Kingdom
CoinFourpence 1939 (Maundy)

The Maundy fourpence (or four pence) coin is the highest denomination of Maundy money - coins specially minted in varying (but always small) mintage for ceremonial purposes and not intended as circulating currency. They are usually handed by the British monarch in person to selected deserving individuals once every year. They are issued in "prooflike" condition and usually remain in it, especially the more recent ones. Each recipient receives two purses: a red one with ordinary coins, and a white purse containing a particular amount (which varies every year) made up of one, two, three and four pence Maundy coins. Since the amounts are not always divisible by ten, the number (and mintage) of the respective denominations differ; in other words, they cannot always all be cleanly combined into a number of full sets. Note also that the coins are initially in purses; the sets that appear on the market are made from these later, and are not issued as sets by the Royal Mint.

The Royal Maundy is an ancient ceremony which has its origin in the commandment Christ gave after washing the feet of his disciples on the day before Good Friday. The commandment (also known as a "mandatum" from which the word Maundy is derived) "that ye love one another" (John XIII 34) is still recalled regularly by Christian churches throughout the world. The ceremony of washing the feet of the poor which was accompanied by gifts of food and clothing can be traced back to the fourth century.

Maundy money has remained in much the same form since 1670, and the coins used for the Maundy ceremony have traditionally been struck in sterling silver, save for the brief interruptions of King Henry VIII’s debasement of the coinage and the general change to 50% silver coins in 1920. The sterling silver standard (92.5%) was resumed following the Coinage Act of 1946. The current reverse was designed by Jean Baptiste Merlen in 1822 and has been issued every year since then with only minor modifications.

On Decimal Day 15 February 1971, the pound sterling became decimalised, with 100 new pence instead of 20 shillings of 12 pence (240 pence) in a pound. No change was made to the design of the Maundy pieces, and all Maundy pieces, both pre- and post-Decimal Day are deemed current and denominated in new pence. The series continues as a decimal fourpence.

MintRoyal Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 1,234
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Obverse
United Kingdom / Fourpence 1939 (Maundy) - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows the bare (uncrowned) head of King George VI facing left.

Below the neck truncation in small letters, the artist's initials HP (for [Thomas] Humphrey Paget).

Around, the monarch's legend: GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.. Translated from Latin: George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.

Obverse Inscription GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Reverse

Within an open oak wreath, the numeral value 4 [pence].

Above the value, the Royal Crown, depicted as St. Edward's crown until 1887, and as the Tudor Crown thereafter - indicating a change to the "Imperial Crown" after Queen Victoria became Empress of India. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, it was again supposed to stand for St. Edwards Crown, but the depiction remained that of the Tudor Crown.

Divided by the value, the date of issue: 1939.

Reverse Inscription 4 1939
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Fourpence 1939 (Maundy): References to Information Used
Showing 52 from a total of 152 coins of type: Maundy Fourpence (Pre-decimal)
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Fourpence 1919 (Maundy) 1,524 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1920 (Maundy) 1,460 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1921 (Maundy) 1,542 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1922 (Maundy) 1,609 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1923 (Maundy) 1,726 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1924 (Maundy) 1,672 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1925 (Maundy) 1,670 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1926 (Maundy) 1,762 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1927 (Maundy) 1,681 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1928 (Maundy) 1,642 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1929 (Maundy) 1,761 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1930 (Maundy) 1,724 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1931 (Maundy) 1,759 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1932 (Maundy) 1,835 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1933 (Maundy) 1,872 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1934 (Maundy) 1,887 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1935 (Maundy) 1,928 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1936 (Maundy) 1,323 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Fourpence 1937 (Maundy) 1,325 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1938 (Maundy) 1,275 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1939 (Maundy) 1,234 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1940 (Maundy) 1,277 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1941 (Maundy) 1,253 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1942 (Maundy) 1,231 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1943 (Maundy) 1,239 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1944 (Maundy) 1,259 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1945 (Maundy) 1,355 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1946 (Maundy) 1,365 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1947 (Maundy) 1,375 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1948 (Maundy) 1,385 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Fourpence 1949 (Maundy) 1,395 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Fourpence 1950 (Maundy) 1,405 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Fourpence 1951 (Maundy) 1,468 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Fourpence 1952 (Maundy) 1,064 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Fourpence 1953 (Maundy) 1,078 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH II DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REGINA F: D:
Fourpence 1954 (Maundy) 1,050 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1955 (Maundy) 1,082 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1956 (Maundy) 1,088 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1957 (Maundy) 1,094 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1958 (Maundy) 1,100 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1959 (Maundy) 1,106 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1960 (Maundy) 1,180 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1961 (Maundy) 1,188 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1962 (Maundy) 1,197 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1963 (Maundy) 1,205 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1964 (Maundy) 1,213 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1965 (Maundy) 1,221 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1966 (Maundy) 1,206 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1967 (Maundy) 1,068 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1968 (Maundy) 964 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1969 (Maundy) 1,002 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Fourpence 1970 (Maundy) 1,068 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Showing 101 to 152 of 152 Coins.
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Fourpence 1939 (Maundy): Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Coin TypeMaundy Fourpence (Pre-decimal)
Issued1939
MonarchKing George VI
EffigyKing George VI - Bare Head, by Thomas Humphrey Paget
ReverseImperial Crown - St Edward's Crown and the Tudor Crown
Face Value4 (x Penny)
Total Mintage1,234
CurrentYes
Material0.500 Silver
DesignerJean Baptiste Merlen
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationCoin Alignment (Axis 6)
Size18.0000 mm
Mass1.8900 g
OCC IDRDKL-MEMK-CQDN-ENZB
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Fourpence 1939 (Maundy): Catalogue Reference IDs