Pounds, Shillings, And Pence. The etymology of these very necessary articles of exchange may be thus stated : - " Pound" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon pund or pond, which was generally a weight; it was then applied to a specific weight, consisting of a certain number of equal pails ; to a certain number of pieces of money amounting to such a weight; and to a coin equalling such number of pieces in value. "Shilling" is of doubtful etymology ; but derived probably from scilling, the appellation for a piece of money amongst our Anglo-Saxon predecessors. "Penny" is also of doubtful origin ; but the name as applied to a coin is of great antiquity.