Elizabethan Money: Coins
Silver Coins
| Name | Value | Circulation dates |
|---|
| Halfpenny | 1/2 d | 1583... |
| Three-farthings | 3/4 d | 15 November 1561... |
| Penny (d) | 1d | ...1571, 1583... |
| Three-halfpence | 1 1/2 d | 15 November 1561... |
| Half-groat | 2d | |
| Half-crown | 2 1/2 d | |
| Threepence | 3 d | |
| Quarter-shilling | 3d | 15 November 1561... |
| Groat | 4 d | |
| Sixpence | 6 d | |
| Half-shilling | 6 d | 15 November 1561... |
| Shilling (s) | 12 d | ...15 November 1561, 1583... |
| Quarter-angel | 2s 6d | 1572... |
| Crown | 5s | 1551...1553, 1601... |
| Angel | 10s | 1551... |
|
Gold Coins
| Name | Value | Circulation dates |
|---|
| Quarter-angel | 2s 6d | 1572... |
| Half-crown | 2s 6d | |
| Half-angel | 5s | |
| Crown | 5s | |
| Angel | 10s | |
| Half-sovereign | 10s | |
| Half-pound | 10s | |
| Ryal | 15s | |
| Pound (£) | 20s | |
| Heavy Sovereign | 30s | October 1551... |
|
| d | Penny. Comes from Latin "dinarius" or close to
that |
| s | Shilling |
| £ | Pound. Don't know where it comes from |
Just because certain coins were not be produced any longer does not mean
that the coins were unavailable.
The government contemplated producing copper halfpennies and
farthings in 1574, but these coins probably never passed beyond
the pattern stage. A farthing was probably made by cutting a penny into
four pieces.
As a shortcut, the only coins that you really need to know are the
penny, shilling, and pound. Also note that the plural of penny is
"pence", and not "pennies".
References:
Copyright © 2001 Gary Kephart