2007-01-10 06:50:49 · 5 answers · asked by pauleb 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The abbreviation 'D' comes from the Roman 'denarius' (which was the coin used to pay soldiers - also the most common Roman coin found) and was used until decimalisation in 1971.
In Latin denarious refers a single unit of currency.
2007-01-10 06:54:28 · answer #1 · answered by Marina99 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Denarius - single unit of currency (Latin)
Denarii - plural of same
Just as penny is to pence; by the way there is no such thing as a 1 pence piece - a penny, yes!
A pence most certainly not!
2007-01-10 06:57:36 · answer #2 · answered by Modern Major General 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's derived from the name of the small Roman coin "denarius" or "denarii" (plural); the most common coin that existed in Roman Britain.
The £ sign used to be "L"; short for Libra (like the zodiac sign of weighing scales) meaning "a pound weight".
2007-01-10 06:56:45 · answer #3 · answered by Neil_R 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It isn`t that technical . It refers to prior to and after decimalisation in the late 60`s early 70`s
2007-01-10 07:00:10 · answer #4 · answered by Billythedog 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
it just was...we had pounds £££££
shillings sssss
and pence ddddd
its from the roman "denarius" according to Wikipedia.
2007-01-10 06:59:27 · answer #5 · answered by kenjinuk 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋