Great Britain currently uses the decimal system, as does all of the civilized world. However it's the pre-decimalization of British coinage which has worked it's terminology into much of literature, including Mother Goose.
Currently the British Pound Sterling is simply 100 Pence equals a Pound. However, previously the British coinage was somewhat more complicated.
These coins are borrowed from Don's World Coin Gallery. Visit his website to view coins from all over the world ... even the values are shown!
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1/3 Farthing, copper |
The coin of the realm having the least value. Three of the 1/3 Farthings made One Farthing. |
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½ Farthing, copper | Two Half Farthings made a One Farthing. | |
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1 Farthing, copper | Four Farthings made a Penny. | |
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½ Penny, copper | Also known as a Ha-Pence or Ha-Penny. Abbreviated as ½d. | |
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Penny, copper | The plural of Penny is Pence. Abbreviated as 1d. 240 Pennies made a Pound. | |
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1½ Pence, silver | These existed only during part of the reign of Queen Victoria ... 1838-1862. Abbreviated as 1½d. | |
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2 Pence, silver | The Two Pence piece was also referred to as Tupence, or sometimes as t'pence. Abbreviated as 2d. | |
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2 Pence, copper | This Tupence was also known as a Cartwheel, referencing it's large size. Abbreviated as 2d. | |
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3 Pence, silver | Three Pence, also known as a Three Penny Bit. Abbreviated as 3d. | |
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3 Pence, nickel-brass | Three Pence. Abbreviated as 3d. | |
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4 Pence, silver | Four Pence, also known as a Groat. During the mid-1800s a Groat was bus fare in the UK. Abbreviated as 4d. | |
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6 Pence, silver | Six Pence, also
known as a Tanner. Abbreviated as 6d. Two Six Pence made a
Shilling.
The old English poem, "Something old, something new, and a Six Pence in her shoe.", referred to the clothing worn at a wedding, and hinted at the fact that if a Six Pence was kept in her shoe, that it was sufficient for fare back home if the marriage did not work out well. |
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Shilling, silver | A Shilling was also known as a Bob. Twelve Pence made a Shipping and Twenty Shillings made a Pound. Abbreviated as 1s. | |
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2 Shillings, silver | The Two Shillings piece was also known as a Florin. Abbreviated as 2s. | |
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½ Crown, silver | An Half Crown. Abbreviated as 2½s. | |
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Double Florin, silver | A Double Florin was equal to 4 Shillings. | |
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Crown, silver |
A Crown was equal to 5 shillings. Four Crowns made a Pound. It was the largest silver coin made in the UK, and it set the standard for world Crown Size coinage. |
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| Image needed | ½ Sovereign, gold | An Half Pound, 10 Shillings. | |
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1 Sovereign, gold | A Sovereign = A Pound, 20 Shillings. | |
| Image needed | 2 Pounds, gold | Two Pounds. | |
| Image needed | 5 Pounds, gold | Five Pounds - The largest British pre-decimalization coinage. | |
| Image needed | 1/3 Guinea, gold | A Guinea was 21 Shillings; this represented a 5% tip which the wealthy were expected to pay. | |
| Image needed | ½ Guinea, gold | . | |
| Image needed | 1 Guinea, gold | Only made during the reign of King George III |
