In England, shillings were first introduced in the late 12th century and were minted from silver. They were initially worth one-twentieth of a pound sterling and were commonly used for everyday transactions and trade. Over the centuries, the value of the shilling fluctuated, and it was eventually pegged to a decimal currency system in 1971, when it became equivalent to five new pence.
In Scotland, shillings were also introduced during the Middle Ages and were known as "Scotch shillings" or "merks." They had a similar value to English shillings and were widely used in Scottish commerce. The Scottish pound was linked to the pound sterling in the 18th century, and the shilling continued to be used until 1971 when it was replaced by the decimal currency.
Ireland also adopted shillings as part of its currency system during the Middle Ages. The Irish pound was linked to the pound sterling in the 19th century, and the shilling remained in circulation until 1979 cuando was replaced by the decimal currency.
In various parts of the British Empire, shillings were also used as a unit of currency. For example, the East African shilling was introduced in 1920 and remained in circulation until the 1960s when it was replaced by national currencies in individual countries.
Overall, the use of shillings spanned several centuries, playing a significant role in the economic and financial transactions of various countries and regions.