The shilling is a historical coin, and the name of a unit of modern currencies formerly used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, other British Commonwealth countries and Ireland, where they were generally equivalent to 12 pence or one-twentieth of a pound before being phased out during the 1960s and 1970s.
A 1933 UK shilling
1956 Elizabeth II UK shilling showing English and Scottish reverses
English shilling minted under Edward VI, c. 1551
Schilling coin of the imperial city of Zürich, minted in billon, 1640
A penny is a coin or a unit of currency in various countries. Borrowed from the Carolingian denarius, it is usually the smallest denomination within a currency system. Presently, it is the formal name of the British penny (abbr. p) and the de facto name of the American one-cent coin (abbr. ¢) as well as the informal Irish designation of the 1 cent euro coin (abbr. c). Due to inflation, pennies have lost virtually all their purchasing power and are often viewed as an expensive burden to merchants, banks, government mints and the public in general.
A worn medieval penny, probably dating from the reigns of Henry VI–VII, AD 1413–1461
Image: 1911 Australian Penny Reverse
Image: Coin of Eric Bloodaxe Norse king of York 952 954
Image: Offa king of Mercia 757 793 silver penny
