British Currency
Money is divided into pounds (£) shillings (s. or /-) and pennies (d.).
Thus, 4 pounds, eight shillings and fourpence would be written as £4/8/4d. or £4-8-4d.
There are:
- 20 shillings in £1 - a shilling was often called 'bob', so 'ten bob' was 10/-
- 12 pennies in 1 shilling
- 240 pennies in £1
Pennies were broken down into other coins:
- a farthing (a fourth- thing) was ¼ of a penny
- a halfpenny (hay-p'ny) was ½ of a penny
- three farthings was ¾ of a penny
Other coins of a value less than 1/- were:
- a half-groat (2d) 6 x 2d = 1/-
- a threepenny bit (3d) made of silver 4 x 3d. = 1/-
- a groat (4d) 3 x 4d = 1/-
- sixpence (silver) - often called a 'tanner' 2 x 6d = 1/-
Coins of more than 1/- but less than £1 in value were:
- a two shilling piece (called a florin) 10 x 2/- = £1
- a half-crown ( 2/6d) 8 x 2/6d = £1
- a crown (5/-) 4 x 5/- = £1
- ten shillings (a half-sovereign) 2 x 10/- = £1
- a half-guinea (10/6d) 2 x 10/6d = £1/1/-
A £1 coin was called:
- a Sovereign and was made of gold.
- A paper pound often was called a 'quid'.
Coins of more than £1 were:
- a guinea (£1/1/-)
- a £5 coin
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