2 Pence - George I incl. Maundy (1717–1727)
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Year | 1717–1727 |
| Denomination | 2 Pence |
| Mint | Royal Mint · Llantrisant |
| Series | Maundy Money |
| Circulation | Non-circulating |
| Demonetised | Yes |
| Composition | Silver (.925) (925/1000 fine) |
| Weight | 1.000g · 0.0297 t oz |
| Diameter | 14.0mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Grade scale | UK (EF/UNC) |
Laureate and draped bust of King George I right, legend around.
Central denomination below crown dividing date, legend around.
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Daily limit reachedAbout the 1717 2 Pence - George I incl. Maundy
The 1717 2 Pence - George I incl. Maundy is a collector 2 pence coin issued from 1717 to 1727 in the Maundy Money series, struck in 92.5% silver. It weighs 1g and measures 14mm across. Reverse design: Central denomination below crown dividing date, legend around.
It is no longer legal tender, so its value is to collectors only.
Common questions
How much is the 1717 2 Pence - George I incl. Maundy worth?
No verified sale of the 1717 2 Pence - George I incl. Maundy has been logged on MyCoinage yet. Its silver content is worth about £1.19 at today's spot price, which puts a floor under its value.
Which years have a George I twopence?
Tony Clayton lists 1717, 1721, 1723, 1726 and 1727. His Maundy list shows the twopence alongside the threepence and fourpence in 1717 and 1721, with all four Maundy coins in 1723 and 1727, and with the penny alone in 1726.
Was the George I twopence Maundy money?
Not in the modern sense. Wikipedia's Royal Maundy article says there is no record of any coin above the penny being used in the Maundy gift before 1731, and that sets from before then are most likely ordinary circulation strikes. Collectors still group them with Maundy money.
How many George I twopences were made?
No mintage figures are published for any date. Wikipedia notes that very little silver reached the Mint in George I's reign, and that the penny and twopence were unpopular because they were so small.
Is a George I twopence legal tender?
Wikipedia states that at decimalisation all Maundy pieces, before and after Decimal Day, were deemed by law to be denominated in new pence. The twopence of this design is collected as part of the Maundy series and is never spent.
How do I identify the 1717 2 Pence - George I incl. Maundy?
Check the weight 1g and diameter 14mm and the metal (92.5% silver) against the specification table on this page. The reverse design is described above.
History and design
The silver twopence, or half groat, had been struck since the 14th century, and by George I's reign it was a tiny coin of about 1 g. Wikipedia's history of the penny explains that so little silver came to the Mint in these years that only small quantities of the smallest coins were made, and that the penny and twopence were unpopular because of their size. Tony Clayton lists George I twopences dated 1717, 1721, 1723, 1726 and 1727. No mintage figures are published.
Collectors class these as Maundy coins, but Wikipedia's article on the Royal Maundy notes there is no record of any denomination above the penny being used in the Maundy gift before 1731, and that earlier sets are most likely ordinary circulation strikes. Specially struck Maundy coins only came into use from 1752.
The obverse shows a laureate bust of George I facing right with the legend GEORGIVS DEI GRATIA. The reverse has a crowned numeral 2 with MAG BR FR ET HIB REX and the date, abbreviating King of Great Britain, France and Ireland. Clayton notes that the reverse of the twopence has shown a crowned 2 ever since 1689.
The Royal Mint Museum's 1721 and 1727 twopences weigh 1.02 g and 1.01 g, with plain edges. Wikipedia's article on John Croker, Chief Engraver from 1705, says he engraved almost all the dies for George I's coins.
Collecting notes
Clayton's Maundy list shows that only 1723 and 1727 have all four denominations, so a complete George I set can only be made for those years. In 1726 only the penny and twopence were dated. The lettering is tiny, so read the date with a lens. At decimalisation all Maundy pieces were revalued in new pence. The penny of the reign is the George I silver penny.
Sources
The history, design, varieties and collecting notes on this page are drawn from these sources. Prices come from recorded sales, not from them.
- Values of Maundy Sets, Tony Clayton, Coins of the UK (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Values of silver Twopence, Tony Clayton, Coins of the UK (read 12 Oct 2026)
- George I twopence, 1721 (RMM 344), The Royal Mint Museum, via Museum Data Service (read 12 Oct 2026)
- George I twopence, 1727 (RMM 345), The Royal Mint Museum, via Museum Data Service (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Maundy twopence, 1723 (BC350), Culture Perth and Kinross, via Museum Data Service (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Royal Maundy, Wikipedia (read 12 Oct 2026)
- History of the British penny (1714 to 1901), Wikipedia (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Two Pence, Tony Clayton, Coins of the UK (read 12 Oct 2026)
- John Croker (engraver), Wikipedia (read 12 Oct 2026)
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