Coin nicknames

Swampboy

Posted by the Royal Mint

For those on the board (like me) who might not know all this.

Bender – A sixpence was known as a bender because due to its silver content it could be bent in the hands.

Bob – The subject of great debate, as the origins of this nickname are unclear although we do know that usage of bob for shilling dates back to the late 1700s.

Florin – The early florins took their name from coins first issued in Italy which became dominant trade coins across Western Europe.

Groat – also known as the fuppence, this large four penny coin was a mainstay of medieval money.

Tanner – this alternative name for the sixpence probably dates from the early 1800s and seems to have its root in the Romany gypsy ‘tawno’ which means ‘small one’.

Thruppenny bit – also variously known as a Joey or a thruppence, this coin is still manufactured in very small numbers by The Royal Mint for inclusion in sets of Maundy Money.

Quid – an old nickname for the pound that has survived into modern British usage.
Sov – a nickname for Sovereigns, and also sometimes applied to pound coins.

Nugget – a relative newcomer used to refer to pound coins.

Beer token – commonly used but often assigned specifically to the £2 coin, as when it was introduced a pint of beer in Britain commonly cost around £2.

amwldcoin

Fish Scale - Canadian 5 cent silver.