We often see “coin” used in hist roms as a synonym for money, but would you be surprised to learn this would not have been used?

Money was referred to as just that, money. If dealing with specifics, like prices, the words used would be pounds, shillings, and pennies, specifically. If someone wanted to refer to their estate money, they might refer to their purse. If someone wanted to refer to pocket spending money, they might refer to their pin money. But “coin” would never be used.

There was ample slang, however, for the gentlemen to use in the gambling dens, at the horse races, in thieves circles, etc.

Something to consider is that other than amongst the poor, commerce ran by credit lines (tabs, vowels, etc.) rather than actual money exchanging place at time of purchase. Money was not discussed amongst the genteel, and that still holds today in the highest of social circles.

Ladies and gentlemen rarely to never carried around physical money. If they did, their accompanying servant would be the one carrying money, say to pay an ostler or street sweeper. There was no such thing as “tipping” someone, so that’s an important consideration, and to a great extent, that still holds today in many European countries.

For store purchases, the item would be credited, and then the store owner would send the bill to the master of the household at a later date, typically paid by the steward or secretary from the estate’s purse. There was none of this silliness of asking how much something was, viewing price tags, or exchanging of money by hand.

It was not until 1817 that the one-pound sovereign was introduced.

Important for Americans: pounds refers to pounds-sterling, not lbs in weight. So one would use £ as the pounds symbol, never lbs., as in the lady had £2, not the lady had 2 lbs.

The general breakdown of money and meanings:

1 pound (£1) = 20 shillings or 240 pence or 4 crowns

1 shilling (1s or a bob) = 12 pence

1 pence (penny or 1d) = 4 farthings or 2 halfpence

1 halfpenny (ha’penny) = 2 farthings

1 thruppence (or thruppenny bit or threepence) = 3 pence

1 fourpence (fourpenny bit or groat) = 4 pence

1 sixpence (tanner or sixpenny bit) = 6 pence

1 florin (or a two bob bit)= 2 shillings

1 half crown = 2 shillings and 6 pence (2s 6d)

1 crown = 5 shillings 1 guinea* (always gold) = 21 shillings or 1 pound and 1 shilling

Half guinea = 10 shilling and 6 pence

*Guinea was the most common way to price items when it came to 1 pound notes, and even when the sovereign replaced it in 1817, most stores still used guinea pricing. When referencing 1 pound, “guinea” would be used prior to 1817 and “sovereign” after. Interestingly a guinea is 21 shillings, while a sovereign is 20 shillings, so when using a guinea, you’re offering 1 extra shilling for grins and giggles.

When it comes to slang, only men would use such phrases, and even then, not in the presence of a lady. They would use these for betting, gambling, etc.

Blunt = money in general

Monkey = 500 pounds or 20 ponies

Pony = 25 pounds

Bit = 2 ha’pennies

Two Tanners = a shilling or bob

Two bob = A florin

A Florin and a Tilbury = Half crown (or two-and-six for 2 shillings, 6 pence)

Two Oxfords = a Ten Bob Note

Quid or Nicker = 1 pound

General terms but also women permissible for usage:

Ha’penny = 2 farthings

1 penny = 2 ha’pennies

A thrupenny bit = 3 pennies

Sixpence = 3 thruppences

A shilling or bob = 3 sixpences

A florin = 3 shillings

Half a crown = 2 florin and 2 sixpence

1 crown = 3 half crowns

Ten bob note = 4 half crowns

Guinea = 1 pound and 1 shilling

Sovereign = A single coin valued at one pound, exactly, but NOT USED UNTIL AFTER 1817!

A terrific breakdown of the money system:

https://www.kristenkoster.com/a-primer-on-regency-era-currency

A great overview:

https://randombitsoffascination.com/2022/02/03/regency-currency-basics