UK currency

[dstuffle]

What are the various coins/bills of UK currency and what are they in relationship to the GB pound?

[ravenhair]

The coins are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, �1 and �2. Notes are �1 (we still use them in Scotland), �5, �10, �20, �50 and �100 (Scotland only).

[karstdejong]

I think most of the 1p to 50p are all similar - I've seen canadian 10p's though. There are different �1 coins though; irish, scottish, welsh, english, UK, isle of man, channel islands (possibly). Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own banknotes.

[JohnPPotts]

�1 coins aren't different in the same way that Scottish and English notes are different: �1 coins have a new issue each year, which will be one of the English (Royal Coat of arms, inscription "Decus et Tutamen"), Scottish (Thistle, inscription "Nemo me lacessit....." something or other) or Welsh (Dragon or leek, "Pleidiol wyf I'm Gwlad"). There may be an Irish one as well (Harp design?). BUt these will be the same throughout the UK for that year.

[Andromeda]

The Channel Islands have their own issued currency (in identical demoninations) - but it is not legal tender on the mainland (although, being the same size, you do tend to get them out of vending machines!). In answer to your question about the coins being in relation to the GB pound - a penny (p) is 100th of a pound (�).

Andy

[dstuffle]

I REALLY appreciate the responses. My travel-buddy and I will be making our first trip to the UK this fall and I wanted a better idea of what the currency was and how it looked in order to prepare for our trip. I don't know if you are interested, but here in the States we have the dollar (usually a paper bill, but we do have a coin), a penny is 1/100th of a dollar, the nickel (worth 5 pennies), the dime (worth 10 pennies), the quarter (worth 25 pennies) and the half-dollar (worth 50 pennies). We also have paper - sometimes called folding money) in 5 dollar, 10 dollar, 20 dollar, 50 dollar, 100 dollar, 1000 dollar bills. (most people use the 20 dollar and under variety.) THANKS again for all the information!

[karstdejong]

John, Thanks - didn't know they were reissued every year. The Irish one has a celtic ring design. Note to our american friends - English banknotes are legal tender everywhere in the UK, however, those issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland are at the discretion of the receiver. Any bank will accept them and swap them.

[Andromeda]

dstuffle,

If you have a look on the Bank of Englands website, you can see the notes they issue: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/ Have a nice time over here!

Andy

[ChardCoins]

As far as coins are concerned, this is a good place to look:- http://www.24carat.co.uk/coinspecs2000.html It does not directly give their relationships to the pound, but hopefully you do know there are 100 pennies to the pound, the rest you can work out. There are also pages linked which give the pre-decimal coins also.