Sir, - I beg to differ with Mr Seamus Lantry's derivation of the word "sterling" contained in his recent letter. I would refer his attention to H. A. L. Fisher's History of Europe (1936) in which it is noted that during the days of the Hanseatic League, the German trader or "Easterling" was a common sight in London, so much so that the English coinage became known, in an abbreviated form, as sterling.
It would appear that sterling is still inextricably linked to Germany! - Yours, etc.,
North Mall, Cork.