Please login or click here to join.
Forgot Password? Click Here to reset pasword
Ron Brind Posts: 19041 Joined: 26th Oct 2003 Location: England | quotePosted at 16:11 on 20th August 2013 Ha, I bet that takes a few back a little bit! Does anybody remember the British Pound when it was made up of 240 pennies and 12 Shillings? Seems such a long time ago, yet in the 'old days' if you received two Postal Orders for three and a tanner each, pictured as I approved today totalling 7/- or seven shillings (see ID1179160) you would be doing well. Seven Shillings no less! Sadly, I can remember and if you had Half a Crown in those days you were doing okay, well as kids we were anyway. So when I found them today I thought I would bring back a few memories and a little bit of 'Old Britain'. What memories does it bring back for you and was it a good move to drop the 'old' Pound to go decimal? |
James Prescott Posts: 25952 Joined: 11th Jan 2010 Location: UK | quotePosted at 18:39 on 20th August 2013 My uncle died a while back and on clearing his premises i found an old wallet in a drawer containing a ten shilling note and an old pound note i have kept them in an old picture album.they dont half look strange. |
Paul Hilton Posts: 2605 Joined: 21st Nov 2004 Location: UK | quotePosted at 18:43 on 20th August 2013 and to add--which were the first 2 coins decimalised? They were the same size as the old coins they replaced. The letter d used for pence came from the Latin Denarius. And some trades ( tailors for example) sold their wares in Guineas rather than pounds. i.e. 21 shillings. One thing that hasn't changed at least is our £ sign. As for half a crown, half the value of the Crown coin which was 5 shillings. |
Paul Hilton Posts: 2605 Joined: 21st Nov 2004 Location: UK | quotePosted at 18:59 on 20th August 2013 On 20th August 2013 18:39, james prescott wrote:
Sentimental reasons apart, they are still worth their face value if taken to the Bank Of England to get your £1.50. Then we occasionaly come across Scottish bank notes which, strictly speaking, aren't legal tender in England as Bank of England notes are only legal tender in England and Wales. But in practice, if people are happy to accept them in payment, there's nothing to stop them if both parties are happy to use them on the otherside of the border. |
rustyruth Posts: 18773 Joined: 23rd Oct 2012 Location: England | quotePosted at 19:11 on 20th August 2013 The letter S comes from the Roman coin the Solidus. The letter L meaning Libra the Latin for pound. Completing the L.S.D set that Paul mentioned with the Denarius. I've not got any of our 'old money' but I have around 100 Roman coins in my collection. |
Dave John Posts: 22335 Joined: 27th Feb 2011 Location: England | quotePosted at 19:39 on 20th August 2013 Can anyone remember what a 3/6d postal order cost ??? |
James Prescott Posts: 25952 Joined: 11th Jan 2010 Location: UK | quotePosted at 20:08 on 20th August 2013 I think it cost 4 shillings-- i know it cost more than the face value. |
Ron Brind Posts: 19041 Joined: 26th Oct 2003 Location: England | quotePosted at 20:32 on 20th August 2013 Surely not James? I admit I can't remember, but I didn't think it was as much as that. Anybody else know? |
Dave John Posts: 22335 Joined: 27th Feb 2011 Location: England | quotePosted at 20:34 on 20th August 2013 I would have thought probably 3/9d but not sure |
rustyruth Posts: 18773 Joined: 23rd Oct 2012 Location: England | quotePosted at 20:37 on 20th August 2013 I can't recall but I'm sure it was only a few pennies. |