What is Maundy money

A. Specially minted silver coins distributed by the Queen to pensioners at a special service on Maundy Thursday - the day before Good Friday. The tradition dates back at least 1,400 years.< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Q. Maundy What's the origin

Q. Any early examples

A. The first recorded occasion when the sovereign distributed alms at a Maundy service was in 1210, when King John was at Knaresborough, Yorkshire. Provision was made 'for the robing of garments of poor men, sewing of garments 2s 2d, for 13 girdles, 13 knives, 13 breeches for the same poor men; the king fed 1,000 poor men, paid 4 13s 9d for food, 9s 4d for fish'.

Q. Good King John That hardly goes along with his usual mean image.

A. Indeed not. But the ceremony continued. Royal records show continuous references to the ceremony being held on Maundy Thursday from the reign of Edward I (1272-1307). Today's Royal Maundy Service is based on those held in the reign of Elizabeth I.

Q. So what happens

A. The service is organised by the Royal Almonry, an office in the Royal Household based in Buckingham Palace. There are coins: One, two, three and four pennies. They are sterling silver - the only British coinage still minted in that metal - and the coins come in sets containing one of each. The Queen's head - the version used on pre-decimal coins - is on the obverse; the denomination on the reverse.

Q. Who gets them

A. The number of recipients depends on the monarch's age. This year, therefore, they will be distributed to 76 men and 76 women. Each recipient gets coins to the same face value in pence as the years of the Queen's age: seven sets (70 pence), plus a 2p and 4p. They are presented in a white Maundy purse. Each recipient also gets a red Maundy Purse contains 3 in lieu of clothing given in earlier times, 1.50 for provisions and a further 1 'for the redemption of the royal gown'.

Q. But how are the recipients picked

A. For centuries the distribution was always in London - for 60 years at Westminster Abbey. But on her accession the Queen decided that it should move around - usually to cathedrals or abbeys - throughout the country. This year it is at Canterbury. The cathedral dean provides names of rural deans and leading figures of other denominations in the area, enabling the Almonry's secretary to write inviting nominations. By tradition, the candidates should be receiving only a 'modest' income.

Q. It's quite a spectacle

A. Oh yes - another example of what Britain does rather well. In addition to the 152 recipients, there are processions including the children and men of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal, 22 men of the Yeomen of the Guard and ecumenical representatives of local denominations. And then there's the towels...

Q. Towels

A. It's known as Maundy linen. Traditional towels are worn by the Lord High Almoner and the Sub-Almoner as well as the almonry secretary and his assistant. It echoes the days, centuries ago, when monarchs washed recipients' feet. They are accompanied by two boys and two girls recommended by local schools to fulfil another traditional role: They carry nosegays originally thought to protect the sovereign from infection.

Q. And these Maundy sets are valuable to coin-collectors

A. They're sought-after, but not worth a great deal - probably 60 a set. But why would anyone want to sell something of such a high sentimental and historic value

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Steve Cunningham