Old money

[cheesygirl]

I'm posting this for my own reference mainly, since if I just xerox it I'll lose it, and I'll forget where I saw it otherwise. This is an explanation of old English currency, from Victorian London: The Tale of a City, 1840-1870, by Liza Picard. Others might find it interesting/useful.


Copper or bronze coins in circulation began at a farthing, worth a quarter of a penny, then a halfpenny (pronounced 'haypenny'), a penny, a two-penny piece and a four-penny piece. There were twelve pennies in a shilling.

Silver coins in circulation began at a three-penny (pronounced 'thripenny') bit, then a sixpence, a shilling, a florin worth 2 shillings, a half-crown and a crown worth 5 shillings. There were 20 shillings in the £.

Gold coins in circulation were half-sovereigns and sovereigns. A sovereign was worth £1. It was about the size of a modern £1 piece, but heavier.

A guinea was used to express professional fees and in other prestigious spheres. It was not a coin. It was worth £1 1s.

After 1844 all banknotes were issued by the Bank of England, for £5, £10, £20, £100, £200, £500, and £1000.

Comments

[murielle.livejournal.com]

This takes me back. I spent several years of my childhood in Scotland and so "grew up" with the old system. I've never understood the new system.

[cheesygirl.livejournal.com]

I've always wondered how it worked. I imagine it took a bit of getting used to, although the metric system seems less complicated.

[padawanpooh.livejournal.com]

I remember Ace struggling with it in Remembrance of the Daleks

/geekiness