The British shilling was a unit of currency used in the United Kingdom before the decimalization of the currency in 1971. One shilling was equal to 12 pence, and there were 20 shillings in a pound. The shilling was commonly represented by the symbol "s" and was used in everyday transactions. Before decimalization, the shilling was an important part of British currency, often seen in coins made of silver or cupronickel. After 1971, the shilling was replaced by the decimal system, and its value was converted to 5 new pence. Today, shillings are mostly of historical interest.