In the context of historical British currency, '3d' represented three pennies. This coin was often known by several informal names, including the 'threepenny bit', and its value was frequently pronounced as 'thrupny' or 'thruppence'.
Understanding the Threepenny Bit
The '3d' denomination was an integral part of the pre-decimal currency system used in the United Kingdom and other countries before the adoption of decimal coinage. Unlike the modern decimal system where currency is based on units of 100 (e.g., 100 pence in a pound), the pre-decimal system (often referred to as £sd – Pounds, Shillings, and Pence) had a more complex structure, where:
- 12 pence (d) equalled 1 shilling (s)
- 20 shillings equalled 1 pound (£)
Therefore, a 'threepenny bit' was equivalent to three individual pence. It was a common coin for everyday transactions due to its practical value, being less than a sixpence but more than a single penny. The coin itself underwent various designs and compositions over its long history, from silver to nickel-brass, often featuring distinctive shapes, such as the dodecagonal (12-sided) design, to make it easily distinguishable by touch.
Historical British Coinage
To provide further context, here's a brief overview of some other common denominations in the pre-decimal British currency system, as referenced in historical records:
| Coin | Amount | Common Names |
|---|---|---|
| 3d | Three pennies | Threepenny bit, thrupny, thruppence |
| 4d | Groat | (In circulation until 1662, briefly revived in the mid-19th century) |
| 6d | Sixpence | Tanner |
| 1s | Shilling | Bob |
These denominations illustrate the varied and rich history of British money before decimalisation in 1971, which unified the system to a simpler base-10 structure.
