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Pounds, shillings, and pence: a history of English coinage

Lindybeige · explainer · Watch on YouTube

World historyMicroeconomics & behavioral economics

What it is

Lindybeige gives an hour-long history of English coinage and the problems of maintaining a trustworthy currency. It ends with an explanation of why the pounds, shillings and pence system worked so well.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Pointed to as the best explanation of pre-decimal British money, including forgery and the guinea.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2021, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “A better explanation is Lindybeige's video about pre-decimal British coinage”

    Explains the mindset behind pre-decimal British coinage.

    _dain_, 2023-03 · Recommendation · in “Understanding British Money: What's a Quid? A Shilling?”

  2. “There is an interesting video by Lindybeige that explains the old British coin system.”

    Explains old British coin system including why a guinea was worth 21.

    gus_massa, 2026-06 · Recommendation · in “Spanish traders set the standard forGnuCash database design”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: pounds shillings pence, medieval money, currency, numismatics, britain

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