Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Scotchman n.1

[the story that a Scottish immigrant to S.Afr. fooled his black employees by giving them florins (worth 2s/10p) but calling the coins half-crowns (worth 2s 6d/12½p)]

(S.Afr.) a florin (a two-shilling/10p piece).

Show quotations
R.J. Atcherley Trip to Boerland 83: In dealing with the Kaffirs I frequently heard the term Scotchman applied to a two-shilling piece.
H. Rider Haggard Jess 93: Jantjis touched his hat; spat on the Scotchman, as the natives of that part of South Africa call a two-shilling piece, and pocketed it.
[SA]C. Pettman Africanderisms 433: Scotchman This is the peculiar designation given by the natives to a florin.