Chapter Cockney School to Coins of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

(20s.) was a gold coin of the reign of Charles I.
   The Crown (5s.) was first issued in 1553. Crowns and half-crowns are still in common circulation.
   English Dollars (4s. 6d.) were introduced in 1798.
   Florins, a gold coin (6s.), were issued by Edward III.; but the silver florin (2s.) in 1849.
   The Guinea (a gold coin = 21s.) was first issued in 1717; but a gold coin so-called, of the value of 30s., was issued in 1673, reduced in 1696 to 22s.
   Our Sovereign was first issued in 1816, but there were coins so called in the reigns of Henry I. (worth 22s.), Edward VI. (from 24s. to 30s.).
   Shillings of the present value date from 1503; pence made of bronze in 1862, but copper pence were coined in 1620, half-pence and farthings in 1665.