Money

Money terms can be grouped into three main categories: English, foreign, and terms expressive of tiny amounts. The pre-1971 pound (Ł) consisted of 20 shillings (s), with each shilling consisting of 12 pence (d), and each penny consisting of two halfpennies or four farthings. In Shakespeare’s day, coins of several different intermediate denominations were in circulation.

References to foreign coins were usually notional, suggestive of large amounts or small amounts, rather than conveying any precise value; the equivalent English values of the time, which are added below, are at best approximate. The terms which express the idea of a tiny amount are given with a quotation to illustrate the sense.

English Small value amounts

Unit	Example	Value
obolus / ob	1H4 II.iv.524	halfpenny
halfpence	AYL III.ii.341	silver halfpenny
three farthings	LLL III.i.135	coin of this value
penny	LLL III.i.137	coin of this value
twopence	MW I.i.145	silver coin of this value
threepence	H8 II.iii.36	coin of this value
groat	2H4 I.ii.237	fourpenny piece
mill-sixpence	MW I.i.144	sixpence made in a stamping mill
sixpence	2H4 I.ii.25	coin of this value
tester	MW I.iii.82	sixpenny piece
testril	TN II.iii.32	sixpenny piece
shilling	2H6 IV.vii.19	coin of this value

Large value amounts

Unit	Example	Value
angel	CE IV.iii.40	gold coin; value: between 6s 8p and 10s at various times; design displayed Archangel Michael
noble	1H6 V.iv.23	gold coin; value: third of a pound, 6s 8d
royal	R2 V.v.67	gold coin; value: 10 shillings
Harry ten shillings	2H4 III.ii.216	half-sovereign coin from the reign of Henry VII; value: 5s
pound	MW V.v.113	[as in modern English]

Foreign

Unit	Example	Value
chequin	Per IV.ii.24	gold coin of Italy and Turkey; equivalent English value: about 8s
crown	AYL I.i.2	gold coin, of varying value in different countries; English coin, value: 5s
crusado	Oth III.iv.26	Portuguese gold coin; equivalent English value: about 3s
dollar	Mac I.ii.65	[= thaler] German silver coin; also in other countries with varying value; equivalent English value: about 5s
drachma	JC III.ii.243	Greek silver coin of varying but significant value, also used in surrounding countries [cf. below]
ducat	MV I.iii.1	gold (sometimes silver) coin used in several European countries, with varying value; in Italy, equivalent English value: between a fifth and a third of a pound (in Italy, about 3s 6d)
guilder	CE I.i.8	gold coin used in parts of Europe
mark	H8 V.i.170	accounting unit in England; value: two-thirds of a pound (13s 4d); name of a coin, in some countries
talent	Tim I.i.99	high-value accounting unit in some ancient countries; equivalent English value unclear: perhaps Ł200

Tiny amounts

Unit	Example	Value
cardecue	AW IV.iii.270 for a cardecue he will see the fee-simple of his salvation	[= quart d'ecu] French silver coin of little value; equivalent English value: about 8d
denier	1H4 III.iii.78 I’ll not pay a denier	French copper coin of little value, 12th of a sou (which was a 20th of a livre); equivalent English value, 10th of a penny
doit	MV I.iii.137 I would ... take no doit / Of usance for my moneys	Dutch coin of little value; equivalent English value, half a farthing
drachma	Cor I.v.5 See here these movers that do prize their hours / At a cracked drachma	coin assumed to be of small value [cf. above]
eight penny	1H4 III.iii.103 [of a ring] A trifle, some eightpenny matter	conventional expression for a trivial amount
forty pence	H8 II.iii.89 Is it bitter? Forty pence, no	proverbial for a small sum; the standard amount of a bet or fee
solidare	Tim III.i.43 Here’s three solidares for thee	not a known coin; perhaps derived from the solidus (Roman gold coin); expressive of a paltry sum