> all is bob Now, this is one I've not heard before.

Me neither, not even in old fiction. It's so old, he probably omitted to say it dropped out of favour around 1811 or something! And yes, a bob was a shilling (equivalent value coin at decimalisation was 5p).

I've nowt to add to the maestro, Alex, other than to remark the story about political nepotism is the widely accepted currency in the UK.