George I's Maundy pennies occupied an awkward position — struck in silver at a time when silver pennies had no real place in everyday commerce, they existed almost entirely for the annual Royal Maundy ceremony, in which the sovereign distributed small coin sets to aged paupers, one coin per year of the monarch's age. George I, who spoke almost no English and showed little enthusiasm for English ceremonial life, is reported to have delegated the Maundy distribution on multiple occasions. The coins circulated his effigy through a ritual he largely avoided attending himself.
George I's Maundy pennies occupied an awkward position — struck in silver at a time when silver pennies had no real place in everyday commerce, they existed almost entirely for the annual Royal Maundy ceremony, in which the sovereign distributed small coin sets to aged paupers, one coin per year of the monarch's age. George I, who spoke almost no English and showed little enthusiasm for English ceremonial life, is reported to have delegated the Maundy distribution on multiple occasions. The coins circulated his effigy through a ritual he largely avoided attending himself.