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£sd (occasionally written Lsd, spoken as "pounds, shillings and pence" or pronounced / ɛ l. ɛ s ˈ d iː / ell-ess-DEE), is the popular name for the pre-decimal currencies once common throughout Europe. The abbreviation originates from the Latin currency denominations librae, solidi, and denarii. [1]
Decimalisation or decimalization (see spelling differences) is the conversion of a system of currency or of weights and measures to units related by powers of 10.. Most countries have decimalised their currencies, converting them from non-decimal sub-units to a decimal system, with one basic currency unit and sub-units that are valued relative to the basic unit by a power of 10, most commonly ...
Another difference arose when Britain abolished the troy pound (373.241 7216 g) on 1 January 1879, leaving only the troy ounce (31.103 4768 g) and its decimal subdivisions, whereas the troy pound (of 12 troy ounces) and pennyweight are still legal in the United States, although they are no longer widely used.
Troy weight, avoirdupois weight, and apothecaries' weight are all built from the same basic unit, the grain, which is the same in all three systems. However, while each system has some overlap in the names of their units of measure (all have ounces and pounds), the relationship between the grain and these other units within each system varies.
A "pound sterling" was literally a tower pound (weight) of sterling silver. [ 24 ] [ 25 ] In the British pre-decimal ( duodecimal ) currency system, the term £sd (or Lsd) for pounds, shillings and pence referred to the Roman libra , solidus , and denarius .
Before Decimal Day in 1971, sterling used the Carolingian monetary system ("£sd"), under which the largest unit was a pound (£) divided into 20 shillings (s), each of 12 pence (d). Although the coin was not minted until the 16th century, the value of a shilling had been used for accounting purposes since the early medieval period.
Body weight is referred to in kilograms, [30] [31] and baby nappy sizes are specified in grams only. [32] [33] A few parents still convert their baby's hospital-stated birth mass to pounds and ounces. [34] [35] Human height is measured in centimetres. [30] [36] In informal contexts, a person's height may be stated in feet and inches. [37] [38]
Scientific calculator displays of fractions and decimal equivalents. ... which was close to being a pocket calculator. It weighed 1.59 pounds (721 grams), ...