The British Money Bob has a rich history that spans centuries. The first British Money Bob, introduced in 1663, was made of gold and weighed 22.5 grams.
The design of the Money Bob has changed over time, with the introduction of the Guinea in 1663 featuring a crowned image of King Charles II. This was a significant departure from the earlier gold coins.
The Guinea remained in circulation until 1814, when it was replaced by the Sovereign. The Sovereign, introduced in 1817, is still in use today and features a crowned image of the monarch.
Consider reading: Bob Streaming
British Money History
The British used to have a complex system of money, with pounds, shillings, and pence. The term £sd stood for librae, solidi, and denarii, based on Roman weights and measures.
A pound of silver was divided into 240 pence, which is where the phrase "240 pence to a pound" comes from. This system was in place for a long time, until the UK transitioned to decimalization.
You could buy a pint of beer for ten pence, egg and chips for one and five, and a bag of chips for just four pence. Four of chips, please!
A Shilling
A shilling was a coin in many countries, and before decimalisation, it was almost always referred to colloquially as a Bob.
The word Shilling has a fascinating history, although its etymology is not fully agreed upon. Many believe it comes from the Anglo-Saxon scilling or scylling meaning division, a word that can also be traced to Old Norse.
The Shilling is yet another coin with a long history, deriving from the Testoon around 1550. After the Acts of the Union in 1707, it became the British Shilling.
A Shilling was divided into 12 pence, and a pound was divided into 240 pence. You could buy things like a pint of beer for ten pence, egg and chips for just one and five, and a bag of chips for just four pence.
The term £sd stood for librae, solidi, and denarii, where solidus was also known as scillinga. It's easy to see how shilling derived from that.
In his Slang Dictionary in 1864, John Camden Hotten says that the colloquial term "Bob" comes from bobstick and suggested a link to Sir Robert Walpole.
A fresh viewpoint: Bob Shirt
Joey - A Silver Threepence
The silver threepence, affectionately known as a Joey, was a small but significant coin in British history.
The threepence dates back to around 1550, but it wasn't continuously minted. The name Joey came from the politician Joseph Hume, who campaigned for more small change.
The silver threepence was originally nicknamed a Joey when it inherited the name from the groat, a 4-pence coin that went out of circulation in 1855.
The Confusing Ways of Money
The British used pounds, shillings, and pence until decimalization.
The term £sd stood for librae, solidi, and denarii, based on Roman weights and measures.
A pound of silver was divided into 240 pence.
That's a lot of pence!
You could order a pint of beer for ten pence or egg and chips for just one and five.
A bag of chips for four pence was a common purchase.
A shilling was called a bob, and a pound was called a quid or a knicker.
Half of a pound was a ten bob note or a tenner.
Two shillings and sixpence was half a crown or half a dollar.
That's confusing, indeed!
The transition to decimalization was surprisingly smooth.
Prices rose, but it was a British version of unification in Germany.
I bought some coins at a museum and it made me laugh, thinking of egg and chips for one and six at the local café.
Travel does change lives!
Modern Developments
The British Money Bob is a relatively new concept in the world of numismatics, with the first coins being minted in 1999.
These coins are made from a combination of materials, including copper, nickel, and steel, which gives them a unique texture and durability.
The British Money Bob coins have a distinctive shape and design, with a raised rim and a flat surface, making them easy to recognize.
Each coin has a unique serial number, which can be verified online, adding an extra layer of security and authenticity.
The British Money Bob coins are also designed to be recyclable, with a high percentage of the materials used being reusable.
A fresh viewpoint: Collapse Bob Stroller
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a bob in British money?
A "bob" is equivalent to 5 new pence in British money, previously worth 12 old pennies or 1 shilling. Learn more about the evolution of British currency and its denominations.
Why is British money called bob?
The origins of the nickname "bob" for British money are unclear, but it's believed to have originated from 16-19th century slang for a half-penny, "Bawbee". The term has been used since the late 1700s to refer to a shilling.
Sources
- https://fourthgarrideb.com/2015/09/17/so-how-much-is-a-quid-a-bob-and-a-crown-really/
- https://mjhughescoins.com/how-quids-bobs-florins-tanners-and-joeys-got-their-names/
- http://pietroplace.com/the-confusing-ways-of-british-money/
- https://madeleine.qa/why-is-a-shilling-called-a-bob/
- https://www.changechecker.org/2020/01/27/the-history-of-the-ten-bob-note-a-world-before-the-50p-coin/
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