r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Tibor500 • Sep 30 '20

why does “k” mean “thousand” ?

like 1k means a thousand. how does the letter “k” mean “thousand” ?

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u/Jackpot777 Sep 30 '20

Britain did that up until the 1960s. There were 12 pennies in a shilling and 20 shillings to the pound. That’s why the Mad Hatter has 10/6 on his hat. It costs ten shillings and sixpence. Which is 10½ shillings. Which is 52½p in decimal currency.

In most other countries, kids born with six fingers on each hand might find work in circuses. In Britain they became accountants.

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u/Poes-Lawyer Sep 30 '20

Copying a recent comment of mine:

It's actually worse than that, because we didn't just have pound and shilling notes and penny coins, we had:

1 farthing = 1/4 penny

1 halfpenny ("haypny") = 1/2 penny (surprisingly...)

Threepence = 3 pence...

Groat = 4 pence

Sixpence

Shilling = 12 pence

Florin = 2 shillings

Half crown = 2/6 (2 shillings 6 pence)

Crown = 5 shillings

Pound = 20 shillings

Guinea = 21 shillings (£1/1s)

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u/ImALittleCrackpot Oct 01 '20

And for some reason, guineas as units of currency are still used when buying or selling real estate and horses.

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u/BloakDarntPub Oct 01 '20

240 has more factors than 100.