General Chat

Having spent the previous 9 years typing balance sheets and financial summaries in £ s d, it was really hard to remember to use the decimal system. I'd never used the eraser and chalk so much before! (We're talking pre-Tippex days here! LOL) CB >|<

Anyone remember the 'groat' - half a farthing? Channel Islands money was different too! Not pennies but 'doubles'! Did a Welsh penny not have a harp on it or was that Irish?

Right, Daniel. Now you know how the old system operated, tell us what provoked your original question. Beth :)

Don't think anyone's mentioned it yet. A sixpenny piece was called a 'tanner' and a shilling was called a 'bob'. Gawd knows why !!

AND 5/- was called a dollar, and 2/6 half a dollar. Gloria

and a threepenny bit was called a 'joey'

Thanks for answering the question in a clear and uncomplicated way. Appreciate it :-) The reason I asked as that in one my stories a thief drops 6d worth of silver and 9d worth of copper. This is in 1909. I'll never ask another question again! :-)

A Guinea was 1 pound 1 shilling and was a term used in mainly exclusive shops. If you bought a dress in a Cheap shop then it was in pounds the elite usued the term Guinea more than the working class. I can't use the pound sign I only have the $ (Dollar sign on my keyboard) I remember the white five pound note that was mentioned and also the farthing. In Australia when we had the threepenny bit it was called a zac. Metric came to Australia in 1966 the year before I came here but they were in the process of still changing over and if you bought something it had it in Dollars and Pounds. Our coins are 5cents, 10 cents, 20cents, 50cents, $1, $2, Notes are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 Think the term bob was introduced by the boy scouts (Bob a job) rhyming slang. Not sure about the tannner though Regards Jackie

Found this on the net tanner = sixpence (6d). The slang word 'tanner' meaning sixpence dates from the early 1800's and is derived most probably from Romany gypsy 'tawno' meaning small one, and Italian 'danaro' meaning small change. The 'tanner' slang was later reinforced (Ack L Bamford) via jocular reference to a biblical extract about St Peter lodging with Simon, a tanner (of hides). The biblical text (from Acts chapter 10 verse 6) is: 'He (Peter) lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side..', which was construed by jokers as banking transaction instead of a reference to overnight accommodation Regards Jackie

Lyn and Alan - yes, you're both right :-))