• Registered: 2022-01-21
  • Posts: 1,588

Topic: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

Do younger readers here know the meanings of such expressions as

Two and six

Three and eleven

One and nine

?

William

  • From: Essex England
  • Registered: 2022-01-30
  • Posts: 165

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

What about one and threepence three farthings.

I wonder who the youngest member of our community is, and how old they are?

  • From: Auckland, NZ
  • Registered: 2022-01-21
  • Posts: 299

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

I'm not young and I don't know the meanings.

Two and six what?

Three and eleven what?

One and nine what?

4 Reply by GB

  • GB
  • GB
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2022-01-22
  • Posts: 351

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

50 years ago everyone knew!

  • Registered: 2022-01-21
  • Posts: 1,588

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

They are references to the everyday descriptions of money in the United Kingdom before decimalisation of the currency took place in 1971.

Two shillings and six pence.

Three shillings and eleven pence.

One shilling and nine pence.

But exact number of shillings would be, for example, "five shillings" with the word shillings said.

There was no "and one", it would be, if I remember correctly, for example, "two shillings and a penny".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coins_of_ … al_coinage

William

  • From: Essex England
  • Registered: 2022-01-30
  • Posts: 165

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

ericlnz wrote:

I'm not young and I don't know the meanings.

Two and six what?

Three and eleven what?

One and nine what?

What year did you emigrate to New Zealand Eric? You do not remember pound, shillings and pence?

  • From: Auckland, NZ
  • Registered: 2022-01-21
  • Posts: 299

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

Britain hadn't gone decimal when I left in Dec 1970.  So I'm familiar with the old currency.  NZ was already decimal with a dollar being the old ten shillings.  Old coins were still in use for years for example a shilling coin was now ten cents, sixpence 5 cents etc.

Had William said his expressions related to currency I would have instantly known.  I had a suspicion that was what he was referring to.

  • Registered: 2022-06-17
  • Posts: 32

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

I remember those terms very well.
And what about slang terms?

sixpence = 6d = tanner
shilling = 1/- = bob
pound = £1 = quid, nicker, note
5 pounds = fiver (Godiva)
10 pounds = tenner (Pavarotti - a famous tenor)
25 pounds = a pony (cockney)
500 pounds = a monkey
1000 pounds = a grand
I’d better stop there, there are multiple terms for cash itself!

  • Joe
  • Joe
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Cornwall
  • Registered: 2022-01-23
  • Posts: 144

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

I remember those terms very well.
And what about slang terms?

Late into the discussion but I don't see any reference to the Half Crown = 2' 6p (slang in Bolton area= half dollar)

Don't remember any slang for a ten bob note.

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure.
  • Registered: 2022-01-21
  • Posts: 1,588

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

Oh but you do! "Ten bob note" is slang!

I seem to remember "Half a Crown" rather than "Half Crown", so perhaps "Half a Crown" is slang.

William

  • Alfred
  • Alfred
  • Administrator
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2022-01-21
  • Posts: 1,333

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

A crown was five shillings, so I wouldn’t count “a half crown” or “half a crown” as slang.

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams
  • From: Essex England
  • Registered: 2022-01-30
  • Posts: 165

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

But why was 5/- called a crown in the first place? We didn't call 1/3d a quarter crown did we...

  • Registered: 2022-01-21
  • Posts: 1,588

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_(British_coin)

William

14 Reply by GB

  • GB
  • GB
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2022-01-22
  • Posts: 351

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

People very rarely used the term "crown". If something cost 5/-, people might say it cost "two half-crowns", never "a crown".

There were also florins. Until George VI coins were issued, the 2/- coin was labelled "one florin".

  • Registered: 2022-06-17
  • Posts: 32

Re: Do younger readers here know the meanings of these expressions?

We should remember Sovereigns (1 Sovereign = £1)
and Guineas (1 Guinea originally worth £1, based on the price of gold, but because of fluctuating gold prices, eventually became fixed at 21 shillings) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea_(coin)