£sd

The Carolingian coinage influenced the coinage in Europe over several centuries. For the medieval monetary system in Germany by Emperor Charlemagne around 793/794 carried out currency reform was crucial. Because gold was to relate almost exclusively by the long-distance trade, and north of the Alps was plenty of silver deposits in Europe, he introduced a pure silver standard. The pound was Münzgrundgewicht to 367 g, from the 240 pennies were struck. The Carolingian pound weighed about 406 ½ grams.

The penny was the main coin of the Middle Ages. The pound was a unit of weight and was with this system also the currency unit. Just as the shilling the pound was not coined for a long time, but merely used as an invoice coin. A shilling was exactly twelve pennies.

This system exists in several languages:

* Plural of denarius ( penny )

In the UK, this system has held up to the decimation of 1971. According to the derived from the Latin abbreviations ( libra, solidus, denarius ), it was also called " £ sd system ." To date, the Carolingian coinage is officially based on the currency of the Order of Malta. Since the Order, however, has no national territory more, the currency now has no actual meaning.

The pound weight of silver was displaced from the 11th century by the cord.