Shilling

A former monetary unit, primarily in the United Kingdom and its colonies, equivalent to twelve pence, and later, five new pence after the decimalization of British currency in 1971. It was a silver coin and later a coin made of cupro-nickel. The shilling held a significant role in the British economy and popular culture for centuries, with its value impacting everyday transactions and social dynamics. It represented a recognizable denomination in the broader context of pound sterling currency.

Shilling meaning with examples

• In the bustling London market, the cost of a loaf of bread was often around a shilling. Many working-class families relied on budgeting their shillings carefully. A grocer might grumble about a customer owing him a few shillings for tea. Dickens' characters often discuss and haggle over sums of shillings in their dealings.
• The old woman carefully counted out the shillings from her purse to pay for the train ticket. During the war, the government encouraged people to invest their savings in war bonds, even if only a few shillings at a time. Before the decimal system, pricing on shop windows prominently displayed prices in pounds, shillings and pence. Historians analyze price records expressed in shillings to understand the economic climate.
• The actor received a shilling to play a small role in the play. Even after its official disappearance from British currency, some people would reminisce about when they earned a shilling. Many older people can recall a time when a child's pocket money might only consist of a couple of shillings a week. The price of a pint in the pub, and then, of course, an older beer cost a shilling.
• The cost of a haircut at the barber would run to several shillings. A politician might speak about the impact of the shilling on the national economy. It may be easier to comprehend the economic changes of the time by examining data expressed in shillings. The local government might publish reports showing historical revenue collected in shillings.