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Pre-Decimal British Coinage Trivia Quiz

If you are British, this should be a snap. If you're American, good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by daver852. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
daver852

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
95,541

Updated
Mar 21 22

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
11 / 15

Plays
1826

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 82 (9/15), Guest 51 (10/15), Guest 78 (7/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. There are 100 new pence in a pound. How many "old" pence were there in a pound? Hint

1000

100

240

250

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Question 2 of 15

2. How many pence were in a shilling? Hint

100

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Question 3 of 15

3. How many shillings in a pound? Hint

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Question 4 of 15

4. How many shillings in a guinea? Hint

100

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Question 5 of 15

5. What was a "tanner?" Hint

Shilling

Sixpence

A money changer

A paper note of small value

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Question 6 of 15

6. What was a "bob?" Hint

Shilling

A privately issued coin

Threepence

A coin which had been clipped

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Question 7 of 15

7. What was a "florin?" Hint

A merchant's token

A dutch gold coin that circulated in England

A silver coin worth two shillings

Two pence

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Question 8 of 15

8. The farthing was the smallest denomination of British coinage regularly issued. What was a farthing worth? Hint

One-tenth of a penny

One twelfth of a penny

Half a penny

One-fourth of a penny

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Question 9 of 15

9. How many shillings made up a crown? Hint

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Question 10 of 15

10. A tough one. In the 12th century, Richard the Lionhearted was ransomed for the payment of 150,000 marks. What was the value of the mark? Hint

13 shillings, 4 pence

5 pounds

20 shillings

3 crowns, halfpenny

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Question 11 of 15

11. What was a "groat?" Hint

Two farthings

A counterfeit shilling

Fourpence

A gold coin minted only in 1589

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Question 12 of 15

12. What was a "bawbee?" Hint

Shilling

A brass threepence coin

An employee of the mint

Halfpenny

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Question 13 of 15

13. What was the value of a sovereign? Hint

Six pounds

Half a pound

One pound

Two pounds

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Question 14 of 15

14. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, what was the approximate value of a British pound in U.S. dollars? Hint

$4 to $5

$8 to $10

$2 to $3

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Question 15 of 15

15. What happened to British silver coins in 1920? Hint

They were debased

They were made smaller

They were made larger

They no longer carried the monarch's portrait

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. There are 100 new pence in a pound. How many "old" pence were there in a pound?

Answer: 240

English money, like the English language, was seemingly designed to baffle foreigners.

2. How many pence were in a shilling?

Answer: 12

The word shilling derives from the latin "solidus," a gold coin of the Roman Empire. The shilling was a silver coin about the size of a U.S. quarter.

3. How many shillings in a pound?

Answer: 20

4. How many shillings in a guinea?

Answer: 21

If you read a lot of 18th century novels, you'll find frequent references to the guinea. It was also used by auction houses; I guess 100 guineas sounded like less than 105 pounds. Horseracing still uses the term in Britain.

5. What was a "tanner?"

Answer: Sixpence

6. What was a "bob?"

Answer: Shilling

7. What was a "florin?"

Answer: A silver coin worth two shillings

I do not understand why the British continued to mint florins for so long; they served little use in commerce.

8. The farthing was the smallest denomination of British coinage regularly issued. What was a farthing worth?

Answer: One-fourth of a penny

9. How many shillings made up a crown?

Answer: 5

Crowns were the largest silver coins issued on a regular basis. They're quite beautiful coins and very inexpensive considering their low mintages.

10. A tough one. In the 12th century, Richard the Lionhearted was ransomed for the payment of 150,000 marks. What was the value of the mark?

Answer: 13 shillings, 4 pence

A mark was 2/3 of a pound.

11. What was a "groat?"

Answer: Fourpence

Thomas Nashe speaks of "the stable boy who never finger'd groat."

12. What was a "bawbee?"

Answer: Halfpenny

My little niece is fond of a song that goes: "Ally, bally, ally-bally-bee/Sittin' on her mammy's knee/Waitin' for a wee bawbee/To buy more Coulter's Candy."

13. What was the value of a sovereign?

Answer: One pound

A sovereign was a gold coin worth one pound; it was about the size of a U.S. five dollar gold coin. Even examples over 150 years old sell for little more than bullion value.

14. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, what was the approximate value of a British pound in U.S. dollars?

Answer: $4 to $5

The value of the pound naturally varied somewhat against the dollar, but its value was usually a little below $5; it was devalued to $4.40 in 1925, and devalued several times thereafter.

15. What happened to British silver coins in 1920?

Answer: They were debased

For centuries British coins had been made of sterling silver, i.e., .925 fine silver. In 1920, the silver coins were debased to .500 fine, and they turned an ugly grayish color after being in circulation for a few years.

Source: Author daver852

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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