h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

<< As the shilling hasn't existed since 1973 (I think) the term 'bob' is no longer even used. >>

It's going a bit far to say it isn't used at all. It is certainly still used to refer to money in general, as in "I made a few bob there" or "This is going to cost a few bob".

In fact, thinking about it, it always seems to be preceded by the words "a few" these days.

KZWG In fact, thinking about it, it always seems to be preceded by the words "a few" these days.


And always accompanied by a sucking in of breath between clenched teeth by the plumber, electrician, builder that you asked to quote for some minor repair

So out of 16 posters, 2 have heard of it. Perhaps it's a regional thing?

Deb

I've heard it used as a generic term for money, but never with a fixed denomination (unless we're talking about pre-decimalisation subjects, in which case it means a shilling).

Nah. I think they just heard it in context once and assumed a meaning (not realising where it came from).

Whoever said they thought it was a pound because of the saying 'bent as a 9 bob note'...(HonestIago?)...that is a pre-decimal saying from when you could get ten shilling notes. Nothing to do with pounds at all.

It could well be where the confusion came from though. Who'd have thought there were ever 50p notes? (Not that there were, and I can remember 10/- notes, but you know what I mean).

There still are, on the Isle of Man.

you can see the ad. here

http://www.visit4info.com/advert/1-Still-a-Pound-with-Saver-Menu-McDonalds-Restaurant/81131

Emmily

"At McDonalds a pound is still a pound, this authentic Mayo chicken, that'll be 99p"

£1 = 99p then?

£1 = 99p then?

Whatever..................

Nope, never heard it called a 'bob', that's a shilling, which is what old people still call a 5p.

I have heard it called a nicker though.

I would ask my dad, but I can't be bothered to phone him at the moment, so will ask him later. Sadly my grandparents are all gone now.

Old people are the worst people to ask this. They will remember shillings and so will obviously not accept any other usage than the traditional. And naturally and correctly so. It's young people who've never come across a shilling who will change things. I'm getting on for 40 and shillings were more or less before my time. If the shilling is no more yet the saying remains then of course it's going to get transposed to something else.
Frankly if I think back to my ownchildhood I considered a bob a quid long before I learned better.

I wonder if you could pay for said items from McDonald's with a bob, then. And expect some change...how much would that be? A groat, perhaps?

RF

A florin (10p) or a tanner (2.5p) would be more recent though.

It is a storm in a teacup - but a quid is a pound and a bob is a shiling. "That'll cost you a few bob" is still a valid saying when referring to money - nobody thinks in shillings now - however if people think that bob and quid are interchangeable, they are wrong. There is a difference between "that'll cost you a few bob" and "that'll cost you a few quid" no matter what the ad-men say.

A bob is a bob and a quid is a quid, and never the twain shall meet!

Interesting...

yet so many of you english peoples telling me that Bob my uncle !!




but most shillings bore the profile of Queen Victoria, with her hair in a 'bob' or 'bobtail'

http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/qv/1s/1s77.jpg

hence the name.

alec.

No, it's nothing to do with Vicky's hairstyle, Alec.

The OED has this reference from 1789: "Bulls and half bulls are crowns and half crowns, in coiner's language, and a bob is a shilling."

They say the origin of bob is unknown. They mention an Old French coin, the bobe, worth about 1 pence (deniers) of the 14th Century, but its survival in English slang is very unlikely.

Icy

Haven't seen a 50p note on the Island for years. Pretty sure there are no new ones.

Oh! My mistake. My knowledge must be a few years out of date...

A piece of trivia... pound notes are still issued in the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey.