On Thu, 14 Nov 2002, at around 09:11:49 local time, Richard Gosling <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >STERLING: In case some readers didn't realise this, some other countries >have currencies that are also called pounds - the only ones I can think of >are Ireland (where it's pronounced 'punt') and in Italy the word 'Lira' is >the Italian for pound, and the currency symbol is similar - at least it was >until it all got dumped for the Euro. Which probably makes Sterling the >only currency left called Pound.
The Turks still use the Lira (pl. Lirasi) - I have a Turkish million-pound-note which I carry around in the back of my wallet for no good reason. The Egyptian currency is actually called the "Pound" (and I find that I still have three pounds and fifty piastres in the back of my wallet). The currency in Bulgaria is the Lev (pl. Leva), which also derives from the Latin "Libra" (and I have a two Leva note in there as well - I wish I had some real money!). > Our pound is called Sterling because we >are too self-important to called it simply the British Pound (like the US >dollar versus the Canadian dollar versus the Australian dollar; French Franc >versus Swiss Franc etc.) No, as with most British oddities, it is rooted in medieval history - see separate posting. ATB -- Mike Ellie - 1963 White Herald 1200 Convertible GA125624 CV Connie - 1968 Conifer Herald 1200 Saloon GA237511 DL Carly - 1977 Inca Yellow Spitfire 1500 FM105671 /// [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list /// Send admin requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool /// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive /// Send list postings to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// Edit your replies! If they include this trailer, they will NOT be sent.
