Hey there, mate! Let’s have a chinwag about something that’s as old as the hills and yet as relevant as that dodgy pile of notes you found in your jacket from last Christmas – currency! Yep, we’re talking about how the UK’s money has morphed from shiny silver shillings to the modern pounds floating about in your pocket. It’s a bit of a ride through history, with some cheeky anecdotes thrown in for good measure.
Picture this: you’re in London, walking past the Tower of London. Now, I’m not sure about you, but I can’t help but think of it as a massive, medieval fortress mixed with a hint of “This isn’t the place to lose your head!" But, did you know that long before we had pound coins, people were trading goods for shiny bits of metal and livestock? Yep, in the good ol’ days, money was as much about the bartering game as it was about shiny coins.
Before the Romans invaded, Celtic tribes had their own forms of currency. These were often made from bronze and had lovely patterns carved into them. Talk about an early startup, right? Can you imagine opting for a cow instead of a tenner? Forget haggling over a fiver; you’d be trying to negotiate a couple of sheep!
Things started getting serious around 775 AD when King Offa of Mercia decided that coins would make trade a bit more efficient. He introduced the silver penny, which became the staple currency in England. A mate of mine, Tom, once tried to impress a date by claiming he had a collection of those ancient silver pennies (probably still eating his beans on toast). Anyway, this penny was not just any old coin. It had an image of the king on it! Talk about a narcissistic move. “Look, it’s me!”
Funny thing is that a penny back then buys you about as much as your average pint nowadays. Doesn’t that just make you feel old?
Fast forward to the 16th century, and we’ve got the shilling making its debut. How did it get its name? From the German word "shilling", used by the Vikings who visited our shores, which let’s be honest, was probably a bad idea for many reasons (bad tea and all). The shilling itself was worth twelve old pence, and the coins were made of silver. If you’ve ever stumbled upon some old money during a visit to the British Museum, those shillings will look vaguely familiar—quite the work of art!
I remember once rallying up my friends for a weekend in Camden Market. There I was, munching on the best street food (because you can’t go wrong with chicken skewers), when my mate Flo asked if I wanted to pay her back in shillings. I had to Google it because I honestly thought she was pulling my leg. I mean, who carries round shillings these days? There’s a little giggle here: all I had was a punch of two-pound coins and some crinkled notes.
Then we hit the 20th century. In 1971, the UK axed the old currency for a decimal system, tossing aside the confusion of pounds, shillings, and pence. “Pounds and pence” became the fashion, which made everything easier but sadly lost a sprinkle of charm. Instead of 240 pence in a pound, you now had only 100.
I can still picture my granddad going off on one about the “good old days” of currency. He was convinced that decimalisation was the beginning of the end. I mean, how was he supposed to keep track of what he owed anyone? It was like a maths problem nobody wanted a part of.
Oh, and speaking of coins, have you ever tried spending old pound coins? I once went into a corner shop and whipped out a gold £1 coin from the ‘80s, expecting the same pleasant “thank you” as usual. But the cashier looked at me like I just offered him a dinosaur egg. Newsflash: they were out of circulation! So, off it went into my bizarre collection of “older than dinosaurs” coins.
In the mid-1980s, our trusty paper £5 and £10 notes strutted onto the scene. Later, we welcomed the £20 and £50 notes, with holograms, printed threads and all sorts of security features to keep all those cheeky counterfeiters at bay. Honestly, if only they had put as much effort into making a decent cup of tea!
One rainy day (because, let’s face it, what day in England isn’t rainy?), I lost my wallet. It was the stuff of nightmares. I thought I’d have to sell my soul for a cuppa! Luckily, some kind-hearted swain returned my wallet, and believe it or not, there was an old £5 note in there. It was like finding a nostalgic friend. But then I vaccinated it away. Bummer!
Fast forward to the 21st century, and suddenly, the cash has gone all digital. Contactless payments, bank apps, and "tap and go" have snuck into our lives. It sounds fancy, doesn’t it? But, let’s talk real. I’m still trying to understand how I can buy a cheeky snack while my phone can’t seem to understand my accent when I talk to Siri. But, hey, at least I can grab a pasty without worrying about digging deep in my pockets for shillings!
Have you played the “Will my card work?” game in a busy café where you’re desperate for a flat white? There’s something ridiculous yet thrilling about that moment, right? “Will it be a glorious success or will I have to awkwardly shuffle back while the barista glares at me?”
So, what’s next? Well, with cryptocurrencies knocking on our virtual doors and discussions about digital pounds, it seems like we might be chatting about this history again sooner than we think.
As I stroll through Brighton’s North Laine, popping into quirky shops and eyeing up street performers (who often look like they need to take up a career that includes actual paychecks), I wonder, what’s it going to look like in 20 years? Will we still be clinging to our love/hate relationship with paper money?
So there you have it! From the silver shillings to digital pounds, the history of currency in the UK is nothing short of intriguing. It reflects our changing times and attitudes toward value and trade.
Whether you’re chuckling at a questionable five-bob note you found under your sofa or strategically avoiding the debate about cryptocurrencies with your mate (who, by the way, is convinced they should be the next finance guru), it’s clear that our money tells a story. Now, tell me, what’s the weirdest or best experience you’ve had with cash? Have you ever been caught out with a note that should’ve retired ages ago? I’m all ears!
