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3 Pence - Elizabeth II Maundy pre-decimal, 2nd issue
| Issuer | Royal Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1954-1970 |
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| Currency | Pound sterling (1158-1970) |
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| Obverse description | Laureate and draped right-facing effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, engraved by Mary Gillick, with a laurel wreath in her hair and a ribbon tied at the nape of the neck. The portrait is rendered in a refined, classical style characteristic of the second coinage issue. The circular legend reads '+ ELIZABETH·II·DEI·GRATIA·REGINA·F:D:' arranged around the periphery, interrupted by a small cross at the top. A fine beaded border frames the entire design. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The large numeral '3' occupies the centre of the field, adapted from William Wyon's traditional Maundy design by Edgar Fuller and Cecil Thomas. A Tudor crown surmounts the numeral from above, while the date is divided on either side of the figure — year digits split left and right. The entire central device is enclosed within a wreath of oak leaves tied with a ribbon bow at the base. A fine beaded border surrounds the composition, giving the reverse a dignified, heraldic appearance consistent with the Maundy coinage tradition. |
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| Additional information |
Maundy money was never intended for circulation — it has been distributed by the English monarch on Maundy Thursday since the medieval period, with the modern ceremony formalized by the late 17th century. By Elizabeth II's reign the ritual was fixed: the sovereign distributes sets of specially struck 1d, 2d, 3d, and 4d pieces to a number of recipients equal to the monarch's age, one man and one woman per year of life. These coins see no commerce whatsoever, which is why virtually all survivors grade at or near mint state.
The "2nd issue" distinction marks the transition away from the Mary Gillick effigy used on currency coinage from 1953.