pence and dimes

[Bellifortis]

Hallo,
I'm a "Continental", so not conversant with british usages. Just now I'm reading a book about the history of the famous british matchmaker company Bryant & May. There the price of a dozen matchboxes around 1880 is given as 7 1/2 d (3p). I expect that d means dime and p pence. Could somebody please explain how these relate to a pound ?
regards,
Bellifortis.

 

[millsbomber]

Hi there. There is 100 pence in 1 pound the D I'm thinking is old money. Not old enough to remember the old money..... Dave

 

[ydnum303]

Hi Bellifortis,

The "d" is our symbol for "old" pence; there were 12 pennies to the Shilling, and 20 shillings made £1, so there were 240 pence to the pound. I believe the origin of the "d" was from the old Roman coin the denarius (the "£" sign is a stylised "L", which also came from one of the Roman coins, I think, but I am open to correction from any of our more knowledgeable members!)

Then sometime around 1970 the government decided to do away with the old system, and we would have 100 "new pence" to the £ (so each 1p = 2.4d). "This will not cause prices to rise" they said, - but that is another story...

Regards,
Roger.

 

[AE501]

The 'd' is taken from an old Roman coin the denarius and the 's' was also a Roman coin the solidus. The pound 'L with the two bars was related to the weight of something? and was Libra.
These are are all from latin, the language of ancient Rome

 

[LCplCombat]

In conversation, your 7 1/2 d would be pronounced "seven pence ha'penny"

 

[Bellifortis]

Thank you all for your most informative answers. Again I learned something. The past is a very good teacher. Thanks guys.
regards,
Bellifortis.