This film is part of Free
King's Maundy Money
King George V hands out the traditional silver coins to the poor on Maundy Thursday.
Overview
The original Anglican Maundy ceremony celebrated Jesus washing the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper, and involved senior clerics washing the feet of junior churchmen. The practice of the monarch handing out money to the poor dates back to at least Edward II. The age of the monarch determined both the number of silver pennies distributed and the number of men and women receiving them. As a feelgood royal story and a predictable annual event, Maundy Thursday was perfect newsreel fodder.
In 1917, George V was 52 years old, meaning 52 men and 52 women each received 52 pennies in specially minted one-, two-, three- and four-penny silver coins at a ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Puzzlingly, the titles of this Topical Budget item talk of "Notes being substituted for gold [sic] for the first time", even though recipients are shown displaying their coins after the ceremony.
Related
No Mischief Here Can Satan Find for Idle Hands to Do No Mischief Here Can Satan Find for Idle Hands to Do
1917 1 mins Silent
Pathe's series on WWI turns its eye homeward in this edition about the interning of enemy aliens
The Production of a Map The Production of a Map
Non-Fiction 1917 7 mins Silent
Worlds within worlds: a maps and globes factory, expertly charted on celluloid
Metropolitan Police Ambulance Team Metropolitan Police Ambulance Team
1917 18 mins Silent
Metropolitan Police officers demonstrate their paramedic skills in this early training film
History of the War: The Birth Place of the Great War History of the War: The Birth Place of the Great War
1917 7 mins Silent
Episode of Pathé's series on WWI, focused on the outbreak of hostilities between Austria and Serbia
Mighty Atoms Mighty Atoms
1917 8 mins Silent
While mothers make guns, children have fun: take a peek inside the Woolwich Nursery for the Children of Munition Workers
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.