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Coins

  • Writer: John Service
    John Service
  • May 9
  • 1 min read

The language of coins is wonderful. 'Farthing' comes from 'fourthing' (a quarter of a penny), while the guinea was made of gold imported from said part of Africa.  Horses were sold in guineas, worth a pound and a shilling, because the shilling was the auctioneer's commission.  The 15th-century 'angel' showed the Archangel Michael slaying the Devil, Henry VII's 'dandiprat" (worth three halfpence) became slang for an insignificant person


Mark Mason, The Spectator, 29th March, 2025

 
 
 

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