Why is a shilling called a bob?

The use of the term “bob” for a shilling was particularly widespread in the North of England, although it was sometimes used in the South too. In today’s British money system, the term “bob” is not used and the shilling no longer exists as a currency, so it is no longer relevant. A bob is an old-fashioned British slang term for one shilling, which is worth 5 pence in modern terms.

More detail about UK coinage is available from , and more detail about banknotes is available from The one pound (£1) coin was first minted, which signalled the end of the pound note. Production of the one pound note ceased soon after this, and usage officially ended in 1988. ‘Bob a nob’, in the early 1800s meant ‘a shilling a head’, when estimating costs of meals, etc. In the 18th century ‘bobstick’ was a shillings-worth of gin. In parts of the US ‘bob’ was slang used for the US dollar coin.

What Is a Quid? History of the British Pound Sterling (GBP)

These are denominations of British, or earlier English, coins – Scottish coins had different values. How much was a shilling worth in today’s money? After decimalization, a shilling was equivalent to 5p. However, with inflation, the value of a shilling in today’s money would be significantly higher. One more random old money thing – if you watched the British TV series Goodnight Sweetheart, you’ll remember there were a lot of mentions of “white fivers”. They’re a particularly interesting note because they were first issued in 1793 when they made the first £5 note.

Please send your own money history and money slang memories. This section is for your own comments and memories about money history and money slang. Measures – money, late 20th century, most likely arising from misunderstanding medzas how much is a bob in english money and similar variants, particularly medza caroon (hal-crown) and medza meaning a half-penny (ha’penny, i.e., ½d). Ewif gens – five shillings, 1800s backslang, perhaps a phonetically pleasing distortion of evif meaning five.

It is derived from the old British coin the “bob” which was worth one shilling or twelve pence, and came into usage in the early 19th century. A shilling is typically referred to as a ‘bob’ in the UK, due to its origins as an old English coin known as a ‘Bub’, which was likely derived from the Roman ‘solidus’. The slang term came into use in the early 19th century and derives from the English phrase ‘to bob’, meaning to shill or deceive, implying that a shilling was not worth its full value. This term stuck over time, and eventually became synonymous with a British pound, even though that particular coin is not longer produced. In many parts of the UK, people still refer to British pounds as “bobs” as a matter of habit, even though pennies and pence are now the only coins used for currency.

• One more random old money thing – if you watched the British TV series Goodnight Sweetheart, you’ll remember there were a lot of mentions of “white fivers”.
• Today, the term “bob” is generally used as slang for a pound.
• On the other hand, a quid is a slang term used to describe an amount of one pound sterling.

Sick squid – six pounds (£6), from the late 20th century joke – see squid. Variations on the same theme are moolah, mola, mulla. Modern slang from London, apparently originating in the USA in the 1930s. Handful – five pounds (£5), 20th century, derived simply by association to the five digits on a hand. Gelt/gelter – money, from the late 1600s, with roots in foreign words for gold, notably German and Yiddish (Jewish European/Hebrew dialect) gelt, and Dutch and South African geld. From the Spanish gold coins of the same name.

Pre-decimal

An example of a phrase in shilling slang is ‘spend your nannies like a squire’, meaning that you should spend a great deal of money. The slang caught on with other groups, such as criminals, and can still be heard today in some London dialects. A tanner is a person who works with leather to create durable and fashionable items such as clothes, shoes, and accessories. The term “tanner” dates back to medieval times, when people without much money or access to other materials often wore leather clothing. In more informal conversations, it can also mean a small amount of money such as “a few bob” or “fifty bob” meaning fifty pounds.

How much was the pound worth at the time?

Bob – The subject of great debate, as the origins of this nickname are unclear although we do know that usage of bob for shilling dates back to the late 1700s. Brewer’s 1870 Dictionary of Phrase and Fable states that ‘bob’ could be derived from ‘Bawbee’, which was 16-19th century slang for a half-penny. Are there any other slang terms for British money?

Shilling slang is a type of English slang originating in the mid-1800s that was used in London by street merchants as a form of coded language. The slang uses substitute words for numbers, magnifying glasses for money, and other terms specifically derived from money. In the past, the British currency system used a ‘bob’ as slang for a shilling, which was worth 12 old pence, or 5 new pence. With the current exchange rate, one shilling is equivalent to approximately 0. Thus, in today’s money, a shilling is worth roughly 0. It is not possible to give an exact answer since the value of a shilling varies depending on a number of factors, such as the exchange rate and the cost of goods and services.

Shilling (British coin)

The one-pound coin is referred to as a “quid” or “one-pound sterling”, and the two-pound coin can be called a “Harry”. Finally, the largest and heaviest British coin, the gold-coloured fifty-pound coin, is sometimes referred to as a “sovereign. In British slang, a “bob” is a slang term for money, usually one shilling or twelve pence.

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As such, the profession of the tanner has remained an important part of the fashion industry, and tanners are still sought after today. Tanners had to treat the hides of animals with a process called tanning. This process involved using various substances to make the hide more durable, which helped preserve it from the elements. Originally, this would include the use of wood, bark, and coal along with the chemicals and salts from animal brains. Leather was easy and relatively cheap to make and provided a reasonable level of protection and warmth. In early times, the tanner would not just make the leather, they were skilled artisans who could cut the leather and construct items from it.

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A guinea was a gold coin worth 1 pound, 1 shilling. Often referred to as a “yellowboy”, they were typically used for more professional transactions (such as to pay a barrister or artist). That extra shilling made it somehow more gentlemanly.