Money, Money, Money..

Money, Money, Money…..

Today, Maundy Thursday, 20th March 2008 a fourteen hundred-year tradition was broken when Maundy Money was distributed in Ireland for the first time and for the second time ever, outside of England. Queen Elizabeth Second, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, presented 82 ‘poor’ men and 82 women each with 82 coins. Each coin represents one year of the Monarch’s life. Face value of the coins comes to 82 pence but in the very rare event of someone selling them at auction, there would be a very high demand and therefore a very high price paid.

Up to 1820 ordinary silver coins of the realm were presented and do not attract as much attention when up for sale as do the modern versions. They are specially minted and are of sterling silver. Unlike other coins in circulation, they show the Queen’s head as a young woman.

The distribution was known in England since 600AD but the first ‘recorded’ instance of the ceremony was during King Edward Second’s reign (1307-1327). The ‘washing of the feet’ was part of the ceremony for many centuries but ended in 1736. During the 2003 ceremony, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams reinstated it.

So, today, Maundy or Holy Thursday, the Queen attended St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, Northern Ireland and presented the sets to 82 men and 82 women who were nominated by the various Church denominations.

The four-penny coin was known as a ‘Groat’ or in London back-slang, a ‘Rouf’.

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