How to Identify the Maundy One Penny

Start with the reverse, because it is the most diagnostic. A genuine Maundy one penny shows a crowned Roman numeral I filling the centre of the field. The date is split around the crown — on the 1687 issue you read "16" to the left and "87" to the right — and the legend MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX runs around a beaded rim. If the numeral is II, III or IV, you are instead holding the twopence, threepence or fourpence of the same family.

Next check the obverse portrait and legend to pin down the ruler. This example carries the laureate, draped bust of James II with a legend opening IACOBVS II DEI GRATIA. The crowned-numeral penny was used across many reigns, so the portrait style and the name in the legend are what distinguish a James II coin from the near-identical pennies of Charles II, William and Mary, William III, Anne and the later Hanoverian Maundy series.

Confirm size and metal. The penny is the smallest of the set at roughly 11–12 mm and about half a gram, struck in silver. It should feel thin and look bright silver where unworn; a coin that is noticeably larger, base-metal coloured, or magnetic is not this type. Seventeenth-century pieces are milled (machine-struck) and generally round with even, beaded borders.

Watch for common pitfalls. The four denominations are easy to confuse at a glance, so always count the numeral strokes. Worn coins can lose the date or legend detail, so read the strongest surviving letters and cross-check the portrait. Be cautious of cleaned, tooled, holed or mounted examples (some were worn as jewellery), and of modern replicas — sharp but "soapy" surfaces, wrong weight, or a seam can betray a cast copy.

When in doubt, weigh and measure the coin and compare it against reference images of a confirmed James II penny of the same date. For a high-value or uncertain piece, seek an opinion from a reputable dealer or grading service rather than relying on visual matching alone.