GB coin denominations...

XpipedreamR

Does anyone know a good source on the web for general info about British coinage?

In particular, I'm looking for explanations of the various denominations, as well as the various metallic compositions of their coins throughout the years.


Thanks!

Aethelred

The bottom of THIS PAGE has some info on the denominations used during the reign of George III.

Philip

Search for Tony Clayton's webpage.

HTH

SYRACUSIAN

Basic stuff: 1 gold sovereign = 20 (silver)shillings
1 shilling = 12 (bronze) pence
bronze
(half and third farthing)
farthing 1/4 d
halfpenny 1/2d
penny 1d

silver
Maundy 1d
Maundy 2d
Maundy 3d
threepence 3d
groat 4d
Maundy 4d
sixpence 6d
shilling 1/-
florin 2/-
halfcrown 2/6
double florin 4/-
crown 5/-

gold
half sovereign
sovereign
2 pounds
5 pounds

gold guinea = 21 shillings

Lloyd

Tony Clayton

Warning: watch the market "values" !!!

Edit to home page...

XpipedreamR

Thanks for the info!

XpipedreamR

The Tony Clayton site was very comprehensive and quite interesting.

The British coinage system ( GB fans, don't take this the wrong way; In fact, I am a budding GB collector, myself) is so ridiculously complicated, it's almost funny, worthy of a Monty Python skit. I can't imagine that even an Englishman of the pre-decimal era could have kept all these denominations straight.

Oh, well...I guess it's just more coins to collect!

Lloyd

I started school in the mid 60's and we had to take seperate lessons to learn to count money. However, after a while you would get used to it. It's just using base twelve instead of base 10. Much more difficult but do-able.

wybrit

The system was ridiculous but the coins are fascinating.

For example, why would a two shilling piece AND a half crown coexist for so many years? That would be about like having a quarter and a twenty cent piece in circulation here.

What was even more amusing is that prices listed under £5 were frequently in shillings: 90/- for example instead of £4 10s 0d.

If you grew up learning the system, it was a piece of cake. My parents were royally confused by it all.

The best fun was D-Day, when we had such slogans as:

"Give more, get change, " "One pound is a hundred new pennies, a hundred new pence to the pound" and "Use your old coppers in sixpenny lots." I still know those bloody ditties.

MacCrimmon

This is worth a look. Has a neat pre-dec/decimal converter down the page.

Remember the guy named Bob lives at 12 Penny Lane.

So, if the Bob twins live just down from Bob at 24 Penny Lane, then what's the house number on Farthing Way where Lord Crown lives?

wybrit

240

wybrit

Did I win the 1856 penny?

MacCrimmon

<< <i>240 >>



Well, of course you knew, laddie!

OK. Lord Crown had a door knocker cast with 240 1/4d. How much did the door knocker weigh?


Make up a new one for Mr. Whisky Italian Greyhound (I dub thee Mr. Wig)! Only the Whisky laddie can answer......

MacCrimmon

<< <i> Did I win the 1856 penny? >>



The Haller specimen? I don't know! Did you bid on it????

Or did you mean my '56?

Shipcoin

<This is worth a look. Has a neat pre-dec/decimal converter down the page.>

Thanks for the link, MacCrimmon it's really cool! I like "coin sayings"!
And now, please excuse me ---I'm going to "spend a penny"

Philip

Is this guy Bob the sister of Ms. Shilling?