Pre-Decimal British Currency Calculator
The £sd System (Pounds, Shillings, Pence):
Before 1971, British currency used: 12 pence (d) = 1 shilling (s), 20 shillings = 1 pound (£). Plus farthings, guineas, crowns, and more!
About Pre-Decimal British Currency
The £sd System
Used in Britain until 15 February 1971 ("Decimal Day"), the £sd system was:
- £ (pounds) = 20 shillings
- s (shillings) = 12 pence
- d (pence) = 4 farthings
So: £1 = 20s = 240d = 960 farthings
Common Coins
- Farthing: 1/4 penny - smallest coin (discontinued 1960)
- Halfpenny: 1/2 penny - "ha'penny"
- Penny: 1d - base unit
- Threepence: 3d - "thruppence"
- Sixpence: 6d - "tanner"
- Shilling: 12d (1s) - "bob"
- Florin: 24d (2s) - two shillings
- Half Crown: 30d (2s 6d) - two-and-six
- Crown: 60d (5s) - five bob
- Sovereign: £1 - gold coin
- Guinea: 21s (£1 1s) - prestigious pricing
How to Read £sd Notation
- £5 10s 6d = 5 pounds, 10 shillings, 6 pence
- 2/6 = 2 shillings 6 pence (half crown)
- 10/- = 10 shillings (even shillings, no pence)
- £1 1s 0d = one guinea
The Guinea Mystery
A guinea was worth 21 shillings (£1 1s), not an even pound. Why?
- Originally a gold coin made from Guinea gold
- Gold price fluctuated, so guinea became worth more than £1
- Used for luxury goods, professional fees, horse racing
- Pricing in guineas was prestigious!
Decimalisation (1971)
On 15 February 1971, Britain switched to decimal currency:
- New penny = 2.4 old pence
- £1 = 100 new pence (instead of 240 old pence)
- Shillings abolished
- Simplified but lost historical charm!