2 Pence - Elizabeth II Maundy pre-decimal 2nd issue (1954–1970)

One row for each year the 2 Pence - Elizabeth II Maundy pre-decimal – 2nd issue was struck. Prices are medians of verified sold listings matched to that year from the listing: circulated is worn condition up to Extremely Fine, uncirculated is About Uncirculated or better. A count in brackets means fewer than three sales behind the figure; a grey figure marked "type" is the median across every year, shown where that year has no sale of its own yet. Most types have been searched year by year only since October 2026, so later years are still filling in. Use the grade table below for a price by condition across all years.

About the 1954 2 Pence - Elizabeth II Maundy pre-decimal – 2nd issue

The 1954 2 Pence - Elizabeth II Maundy pre-decimal – 2nd issue is a collector 2 pence coin issued from 1954 to 1970 in the Maundy Money series, struck in 92.5% silver. It weighs 0.94g and measures 13mm across. Reverse design: Crowned denomination dividing date within oak wreath.

A mintage of 1,020 is recorded for one date of this type; figures for each year are not held.

Common questions

History and design

From 1954 the Queen's title on the coinage was shortened and the words BRITT: OMN: removed. On the Maundy money that was the only change: Tony Clayton notes that the portrait used for the Elizabeth II Maundy coins stayed unchanged from 1953, with the legend the sole obverse difference. This type runs from 1954 until 1970, the last date before decimalisation.

These were years of change for the ceremony. Wikipedia records that from 1954 to 1970 the service alternated between Westminster Abbey in even years and provincial cathedrals in odd years, and that in 1957 it left London for the first time in over two centuries, at St Albans. From then on each recipient attended only once.

Production was small and steady. CoinVarieties records 1,094 twopences for 1957 and 1,221 for 1965, in line with the rule that the number of recipients matches the monarch's age.

The obverse is Mary Gillick's portrait of the Queen, which the Royal Mint notes was kept for Maundy money long after the portrait on ordinary coins was replaced. The reverse is the crowned figure 2 with the date across it, in an oak wreath, as fixed for the reign by the 1952 proclamation.

The wreath design dates from 1822 and is credited to Jean Baptiste Merlen. Wikipedia records that Leonard Charles Wyon reshaped the figure 2 in 1888, and that George VI turned down a 1950 Royal Mint proposal to restore the older 2 because the existing one matched the numerals on the other three coins.

Collecting notes

Each date was struck only for the recipients and a limited number of officials. Wikipedia notes that in the 1960s, after reports of dealers approaching recipients outside the service, questions were raised in the House of Lords and the Royal Mint cut the number of sets available to officials.

The coin is sterling silver and remains legal tender. The Coinage Act 1971 treats pre-decimal Maundy coins as denominated in new pence, so each became a 2p piece. Clayton notes that in 1971 the whole series was simply revalued, so the design continued unchanged under the new money.

The 1953 twopence is the one-year first type with BRITT: OMN:.