The number of people receiving the coins and the amount given is related to the Sovereign’s age: one man and one woman for each year will receive Maundy coins consisting of the same number of pence as the years of the sovereign's age.
Interesting Facts:
- Her Majesty has distributed Maundy on all but four occasions since coming to the throne in 1952.
- King Henry IV (r. 1399 – 1413) began the practice of relating the number of recipients to the sovereign's age.
- When the country went decimal in 1971 the face values of the coins were increased from old pennies to new pence.
- The Queen’s image on ordinary coins has undergone four changes, but Maundy coins still bear the original image of Her Majesty as issued in 1953 - the year of her coronation.
- There are two 1661 Altar Dishes which are used to supplement the Maundy Dish; one is decorated with freshwater fish the other with saltwater fish.
- If the Cathedral is inland the freshwater dish is used – if on the coast then it’s the saltwater dish.