Currency
In 1961, when The Stables at Hampton was first published, the pounds, shillings and pence system of money was what everyone in Britain used until decimalisation in 1971. There were twenty shillings in a pound and twelve pennies in a shilling. Five shillings made a crown, which was a coin only released on special occasions, such as the Queen’s coronation in 1953; half a crown was therefore two shillings and sixpence.
Prices were also often quoted in guineas: a guinea was twenty-one shillings, or £1.05 in today’s money. When Vic agrees to selling Flash for thirty-five guineas rather than thirty-five pounds, that would be £36.75. It sounds a pretty small increase today, but in 1961, that extra 35 shillings would be a day’s wages for a skilled tradesman.