A DISPLAY of Maundy Money goes on show at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery today, to mark the visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh tomorrow.

The collection includes some examples given out by the Queen during the last few decades and some from Queen Victoria.

The oldest coin, a Maundy penny, is tiny, but has the Lord’s prayer written on the back in full. They were donated to the museum by members of the community.

The exhibition, which will also explain the tradition behind the giving of Maundy Money and what it represents, will be open until Saturday, April 19.

Vinai Solanki, the museum’s curator of history, said: “It is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the tradition of Maundy Money and the history of the coins in our borough, which are not always on display.”

The Queen will tomorrow hand out Maundy coins, in denominations of 1p 2p 3p and 4p, to 88 men and 88 women aged 70 and over from across Lancashire, in recognition of their service to their community and church.

It will be the first time the Queen, who by tradition is also the Duke of Lancaster, has visited Blackburn Cathedral, which is the county’s Anglican Cathedral.

n The picture, right, shows The Queen at a Maundy service in London in 1953. For centuries the ceremony was always held in the capital. Westminster Abbey held the service for some 60 years, until it was taken to a different location each year. Pic www.maundymoneyinfo