Souvy

So, a full tanner could be called "knockers", given that it's two thrupnees?

BristolUK

I remember farthings but only in terms of 4 mojos, blackjacks or fruit salads for a penny. Or 2 for a ha'penny.

I vaguely recall a tanner also being a kick.

jennellapea

I was born in the late 80's and I've heard people say it.

Maybe it's a North West / Lancashire thing. Pretty sure my Grandad used to say it too.

bats

I was born in the 50s, but then we didn't use slang in our house.

Later on I moved to the wicked city and learned such terms as: Folding, dosh, wonga, mulla, shekels.

mikelincs

Yes, half a crown being 2 and a kick.

dave_j

.. and an oxford scholar.. dollar.. five shillings

caretaker

If this happened in front of the cashier and the shopper was jingling coins in his pocket while he said it, you mean?

bats

It's best not to pay too much attention to men "jingling coins" in their pockets.

dbd33

Perhaps this is the thread to retell the tale of the Young American. We sent the Young American to London for work. Before doing so we taught him the currency, twenty shillings to the pound, twelve pennies to the shilling and so on. We taught him all the slang terms and loaded him up with ten bob notes and florins and all the rest of it. Being a computer bod and a mathematician he was fascinated to see how people dealt with things costing amounts like ten and sixpence three farthings in day-to-day transactions.

I don't remember what year it was but it was this century so he was able to call me from the Gatwick train, on which he had tried to buy a beer in shillings, to explain that he knew I knew about decimalisation. People think Americans can't take a joke and don't know how to swear, they're wrong.

Tootlepootle

I was born in the 70s in Shropshire and its a phrase used in our house!!

mikelincs

Pocket billiards anyone?

haggis88

Shrapnel for change is common usage where I'm from in Scotland...

I've also heard it described as "smush"

Hurlabrick

I have heard the term 'shrapnel' occasionally and use it myself in the UK. While hardly an everyday term, people do still use it.

BristolUK

As I began reading that it suddenly occurred to me I wasn't sure I ever read you saying how it turned out. Now I know.

Gordon Barlow

I've always called small change "church money". I can't remember where it came from - maybe my Australian grandmother. People who have never heard it used before always understand what it is. Especially church-goers, I expect.