Information on Pre-Decimal coins

 As We Buy and sell Pre-decimal coins every day and are always getting ask questions about our old money.

So here is a page to answer some of the most popular questions.

Pre-decimal money was based on the following;

12 pennies (d) to 1 shilling,

20 shillings to the pound (£)

so in turn there was 240 pennies (d) in the pound.

Pre-decimal currency was sometimes called LSD, which was written £-s-d. The pound symbol is an ornate L, from the Latin 'libra' - a pound. The penny symbol was 'd' for denarius, a Roman coin.

 

L.S.D. (pounds, shillings and pence) Decimal Equivalent
Farthing (quarter of an old penny) 10  per 1 p
Ha'penny (half an old penny) 5 per 1 p
Penny 2 and a half per 1 p
Thruppence (threepenny bit) Slightly over 1 p
Sixpence (tanner) 2.5 p
Shilling (bob) 5 p
Florin (two bob) 10 p
Half crown 12.5 p
Ten Shilling Note (ten bob note) 50 p
£1 Note 100 p

Slang for British Money

Some pre-decimalisation coins or denominations became commonly known by slang terms, perhaps the most well known being bob for a shilling, and quid for a pound. A farthing was a mag, a silver threepence was a joey and the later aluminium-bronze threepence was called a threepenny bit (pronounced threp'ny bit), a sixpence was a tanner , the two-shilling coin or florin was a two-bob bit, and the two shillings and sixpence coin or half-crown was a half dollar.

Slang term Amount
tanner sixpence - pre decimalisation
bob a shilling - pre decimalisation
Oxford 5 shillings or a crown [cockney rhyming slang = Oxford Scholar]
nicker or quid £1
lady £5 (fiver).  [cockney rhyming slang = Lady Godiva]
tenner £10
score £20 [cockney rhyming slang = apple core ]
pony £25
ton £100
monkey £500
grand £1000