How to Identify the Maundy Three Pence

Start with the reverse, because it is the fastest confirmation of denomination. A genuine Maundy Three Pence shows a crowned Roman numeral III at the center, surrounded by the date and the continuation of the royal Latin titles. If you instead see I, II, or IIII, you are holding the penny, twopence, or fourpence of the same small-silver group rather than the threepence.

Next, check the size and metal. This is a very small, thin coin – roughly 16–17 mm across and only about 1.4–1.5 grams of silver. Genuine pieces have a bright, hard silver ring and fabric, not the dull, slightly greasy feel of base-metal or plated fakes. The edge on early examples such as the 1687 issue is plain, without milling or lettering.

Read the obverse portrait and legend to pin down the reign. The 1687 example shows the left-facing bust of James II with his name and titles abbreviated in Latin around the rim. Matching the portrait style, the direction the bust faces, and the date to a known reign is the surest way to attribute the coin, since the same crowned-III reverse was used across many monarchs.

Watch for look-alikes. The most common confusion is with the circulating silver threepence of later centuries, which shares the small size and, in some periods, a similar design – Maundy and currency strikings can be nearly identical and are often separated by finish, date, and provenance rather than by an obvious visual difference. The other three Maundy denominations are also easily mistaken at a glance, so always confirm the numeral.

Finally, be cautious about authentication. Because these coins are tiny and valuable in early reigns, cast copies and altered dates exist. Weigh the coin, examine the sharpness of the crown and portrait under magnification, and be wary of soft, mushy detail or seams around the edge. For a high-value early piece like a James II threepence, confirmation from a specialist dealer or grading service is worthwhile before you rely on any valuation.