Very Rare: fewer than 100,000 minted.
2 Pence - George IIII Maundy issues (1822–1830)
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Year | 1822–1830 |
| Denomination | 2 Pence |
| Mintage | 5,940 |
| Mint | Royal Mint · Llantrisant |
| Series | Maundy Money |
| Circulation | Non-circulating |
| Composition | Silver (.925) (925/1000 fine) |
| Weight | 0.940g · 0.0280 t oz |
| Diameter | 13.0mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Rev. artist | Jean Baptiste Merlen |
| Grade scale | UK (EF/UNC) |
Laureate bust of King George IV left, legend around.
GEORGIUS IIII D. G. BRITANNIAR. REX F. D.
Crowned denomination dividing date within oak wreath.
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AffiliateAbout the 1822 2 Pence - George IIII Maundy issues
The 1822 2 Pence - George IIII Maundy issues is a collector 2 pence coin issued from 1822 to 1830 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 5,940 is recorded for one date of this type; figures for each year are not held.
Common questions
How much is the 1822 2 Pence - George IIII Maundy issues worth?
No verified sale of the 1822 2 Pence - George IIII Maundy issues has been logged on MyCoinage yet. Its silver content is worth about £1.12 at today's spot price, which puts a floor under its value.
How many George IV Maundy twopences were made?
CoinVarieties, citing the standard catalogues, gives 5,940 for 1822 and 3,960 for 1830. An auction description it quotes gives only 2,772 for the 1830 set. Figures for 1823 to 1829 were not found in a published reference.
What is the 1825 TRITANNIAR twopence?
An 1825 Maundy twopence on which the obverse legend reads TRITANNIAR instead of BRITANNIAR, a die error listed by Tony Clayton. It is a recognised variety of the date, so check the legend carefully on any 1825 example.
Who designed the George IV Maundy twopence?
The reverse, a crowned 2 dividing the date within an oak wreath, was created for 1822 by Jean Baptiste Merlen. Wikipedia notes the design is still used on Maundy money, with the crown and the shape of the 2 altered in 1888.
Is a George IV Maundy twopence legal tender?
Wikipedia states that at decimalisation all Maundy pieces were deemed by law to be denominated in new pence. The coin is a collector's piece and is never spent.
How do I identify the 1822 2 Pence - George IIII Maundy issues?
Check the weight 0.94g and diameter 13mm and the metal (92.5% silver) against the specification table on this page. The reverse design is described above.
History and design
Wikipedia's Royal Maundy article records that 1821, the first year of George IV's reign, was the last year in which no Maundy coins were struck. From 1822 a full set of penny, twopence, threepence and fourpence was made every year to 1830. Tony Clayton notes that after 1820 the small silver coins were struck solely for the ceremony, which is why they rarely turn up in worse than very fine condition.
CoinVarieties, citing the standard catalogues, gives 5,940 twopences for 1822 and 3,960 for 1830. These small numbers reflect a coin made only for the Maundy purses.
The reverse introduced in 1822 is the one still used today. Created by Jean Baptiste Merlen, it places the crowned numeral 2 within an oak wreath, with the crown dividing the date. Wikipedia notes that the crown and the shape of the 2 were altered by Leonard Charles Wyon in 1888, but the design has otherwise been struck every year since.
The obverse has a laureate head of George IV facing left, with GEORGIUS IIII D. G. BRITANNIAR. REX F. D. around. The Royal Mint Museum's 1822 proof weighs 0.94 g and has a plain edge, and Aberdeen's 1827 twopence weighs 0.92 g and measures 13 mm.
Varieties and errors
Clayton lists an 1825 twopence with the legend error TRITANNIAR in place of BRITANNIAR. Proofs exist: the Royal Mint Museum holds an 1822 proof twopence, and Clayton lists an 1828 proof Maundy set.
Collecting notes
Clayton describes the George IV sets as available for every year but not an easy series to collect. Check 1825 examples for the TRITANNIAR legend, and look for cleaning and scratches on these small coins. The previous reign's coin is the George III Maundy twopence, and the matching penny is the George IV Maundy 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.
- Royal Maundy, Wikipedia (read 12 Oct 2026)
- George IV proof twopence, 1822 (RMM 1341), The Royal Mint Museum, via Museum Data Service (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Coin, Twopence, Maundy money dated 1827 (BC709), Culture Perth and Kinross, via Museum Data Service (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Maundy Money, Tony Clayton, Coins of the UK (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Values of Coins of the UK: Two Pence, Tony Clayton, Coins of the UK (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Great Britain 1822 2 pence, CoinVarieties (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Great Britain 1830 2 pence, CoinVarieties (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Values of Maundy Sets, Tony Clayton, Coins of the UK (read 12 Oct 2026)
- Silver Maundy Twopence, 1827 (ABDMS019288), Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums, via Museum Data Service (read 12 Oct 2026)
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