“thaler” is just a big silver coin. The first big silver coins issued in Europe since Roman times were struck at Joachimsthal, in Bohemia, around 1474. “Joachimsthaler” got abbreviated to “thaler”. The big coins were found to be very useful, and “thalers” ended up being struck all over Europe, on a whole range of different weight-standards.

South Africa: a threepenny bit used to be called a tickey.  Origin uncertain, but first attested usage is in 1877.

aldiboronti - 14 March 2007 07:57 AM

“Does anyone remember crowns in circulation?  I only remember half-crowns.”

No, the only crown I ever saw was a special issue, I think it was on the occasion of Elizabeth’s coronation. I seem to recall they did one for Churchill’s funeral too.

The Royal Mint refer to £5 coins struck for special occasions as crowns now (as opposed to 5 shillings which they used to be) - there’ve been a few recently, for the Queen’s golden jubilee and I think a memorial one for the Queen mother

Well, if we go back to the early ‘50s, that’s about right (ie five pounds now is worth what five shillings was worth then), according to this website: Historical value of today’s money

So thats why I get an old fashioned feeling of dropping two or three shillings on the bar when I pay for a pint in pound coins now!