Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. sense.

1930		(con. 1910–20s) D. Mackenzie Hell’s Kitchen 118: Eighteenpence ... sense.
1938		J. Curtis They Drive by Night 188: You haven’t the eighteen pence to ask for one yourself.
1935		Thieves Slang ms list from District Police Training Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwicks 4: Eighteen pence; Common sense.
1950		P. Hoskins No Hiding Place! 190/1: Eighteenpence. Sense.
1960		J. Franklyn Dict. of Rhy. Sl.
1978		Maledicta II:1+2 (Summer/Winter) 118: Some of the expressions require notes (Jodrell Bank is an astronomical observatory, though Aylwin marks it ‘R.H.A.’ – Royal Horse Artillery?). It has to make eighteen pence (‘sense’) to non-native speakers.

2. (Aus.) a (garden) fence.

1968

J. Alard He who Shoots Last 83: We’ll jump d’eighteen pence.

3. (Aus./UK) a receiver of stolen goods [fence n.¹ (1)].

1976

(ref. to 1930s–70s) R. Barnes Coronation Cups and Jam Jars 206: Eighteenpence – Fence.