In the 18th century, the letter "L" was used to represent pounds in monetary terms. For example, "L S D" stood for pounds shillings and pence. This usage was part of a system where "L" was an abbreviation for pounds, and "S" for shillings, and "D" for pence. The abbreviation "L" was often used in wills and inventories, indicating a sum of money. The "L" sign was an early form of the £ sign, which was used to denote pounds in old handwriting. This symbol was used to indicate a sum of money, and it was a common practice to place the "L" in front of a sum of money to denote its value.
Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
