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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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sterling
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This name (of uncertain origin, but possibly deriving from a star on certain Norman coins) was used from the 12C for the English silver penny. Coins were traded by weight and the standard became 240 pennies to the pound (hence a pound sterling, as in *£.s.d.). The word is now used for the level of purity of British silver and gold, guaranteed by the *hallmark, and also as a general term for the currency of the UK.
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