On Thu, 14 Nov 2002, at around 08:11:10 local time, Joe Curry
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
>Michael Hargreave Mawson wrote:
>>
>> On Wed, 13 Nov 2002, at around 15:25:20 local time, Terry Thompson
>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>> >Which reminds me, what the hell's a sterling?
>>
>> Sterling is an adjective, not a noun. A pound sterling is a pound in
>> money, not a pound in, say, peas. It is derived from the use of small
>> silver coins with little stars on them ("starlings") as the main unit of
>> currency about a thousand years ago. A pound weight of silver coins
>> with little stars on them = a pound sterling.
>
>
>Actually, Michael; I think the Sterling adjective was derived from the
>term "Sterling Silver". Silver being used as the measuring stick for the
>value of money in days gone by. Colloquialisms shortened the term to
>simply: "Pounds, Sterling".
But where did "Sterling Silver" get its name? From the little silver
coins with the little stars on (see above). <g> "Sterling" silver (the
silver used for making the sterling/starling coins) was of a particular
quality/fineness, and was so called to distinguish it from any other
silver.
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
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