Imperial Money.
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
NO! Not THAT kind of Imperial Money!
We’re talking about the “old money”, the pre-Decimal coinage in use in Great Britain prior to 1970. These coins, with their long provenance and favoured place in the hearts and culture of the nation, acquired nicknames over the years – nicknames which eventually became ingrained throughout the length and breadth of the British Isles.
The 1/4 penny, ‘officially’ called a farthing, became a “Jenny”. A thruppenny bit (3 pence) was sometimes known as a “Joey”; and a sixpence was a “Tanner”. But apart from the nicknames, the old coins’ ‘official’ names sound magically strange to the modern, digital ear…
The shilling, the florin, the half-crown….beautiful and homely and worthy. A fifty pence piece just doesn’t have the same value as “ten bob”!
See also: Mirfield Memories
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