Is a schelling the same as a British shilling?

No. They are different historical coins from different regions. A schelling is Central European, while a shilling was British and Commonwealth.

Can I still use schellings?

No. Schellings are obsolete. They were replaced by the euro in Austria and the Netherlands. Some central banks may exchange old notes and coins, but they are not legal tender.

Why is the word 'schelling' sometimes seen in economics?

It appears in the context of the 'Thomas Schelling' game theory model, named after the economist. This is a surname and is unrelated to the coin.

What is the plural of schelling?

The standard plural is 'schellings' (e.g., twenty schellings).

schelling

Low

UK/ˈʃɛlɪŋ/US/ˈʃɛlɪŋ/

Historical, numismatic, formal

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A historical silver coin used in various German states and the Netherlands, also the former currency of the Netherlands (until 2002) and Austria (until 2002).

Used metaphorically or historically to refer to money or a unit of currency, often with nostalgic or historical connotations.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily a historical term. In modern contexts, it's mostly encountered in historical texts, economics discussions about currency history, or in references to the pre-Euro period in Austria and the Netherlands.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Equally low frequency in both dialects. Slightly higher recognition in British English due to historical European trade references.

Connotations

Historical, European, obsolete currency.

Frequency

Very rare in general usage. Most commonly found in historical novels, economic history texts, or discussions about the introduction of the Euro.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

Austrian schellingDutch schellingsilver schellinghistorical schellingcurrency reform

medium

worth a schellingschelling coinpre-Euro schellingexchange schellings

weak

old schellingschelling banknotecollect schellings

Grammar

Valency Patterns

exchange [NUM] schellings forworth [NUM] schellingspay in schellings

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

guldenhistoric currency

Neutral

guilderflorinhistorical coin

Weak

old moneysilver coin

Vocabulary

Antonyms

euromodern currencydecimal currency

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Not a schelling to his name (historical, implying poverty)”
“A schelling for your thoughts (rare, archaic variation of 'penny for your thoughts')”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Almost never used in modern business, except in historical financial analysis.

Academic

Used in economic history, European history, and numismatics.

Everyday

Virtually never used in everyday conversation outside of specific historical discussions or by collectors.

Technical

Used in numismatics (coin collecting) and historical finance texts.

Examples

By Part of Speech

adjective

British English

The schelling era ended with the Euro.
He had a collection of schelling coins.

American English

Schelling currency was phased out in 2002.
We found old schelling banknotes in the attic.

Examples

By CEFR Level

This old coin is a schelling.

Before the euro, Austria used the schelling.

The value of the Dutch schelling was pegged to the German mark for stability.

Numismatists prize the silver schelling minted in the 18th century for its intricate design.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a SHELL (schell-) made of SILVER (-ing) – a silver coin.

Conceptual Metaphor

A SCHELLING IS A RELIC OF THE PAST (used to discuss obsolete systems or nostalgia).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not confuse with 'shilling' (шиллинг), which is British. Schelling is specifically Central European.
Not to be translated as 'шеллінг' which is typically for the British shilling. Context is key.

Common Mistakes

Misspelling as 'shilling'.
Using it to refer to modern currency.
Pronouncing the 'sch-' as /sk/ instead of /ʃ/.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

Before adopting the euro, the Netherlands used the guilder, which was also known historically as a .

Multiple Choice

In which modern country was the schelling NOT a former official currency?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. They are different historical coins from different regions. A schelling is Central European, while a shilling was British and Commonwealth.
: No. Schellings are obsolete. They were replaced by the euro in Austria and the Netherlands. Some central banks may exchange old notes and coins, but they are not legal tender.
: It appears in the context of the 'Thomas Schelling' game theory model, named after the economist. This is a surname and is unrelated to the coin.
: The standard plural is 'schellings' (e.g., twenty schellings).