Pre-decimal

[poliphilo]

At the back of the Penguin Kipps there's a note explaining the pre-decimal British currency- sixpences, florins, guineas.  My first thought was, "surely everybody knows about that"- and then I did some calculations and realised you'd have to be pushing 50 to have ever worked with the old money. It's things like this that make me realise how venerable I am.

Comments

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

The sad thing is that there were interesting slang terms for all the old coins. In the 40 years since, the new coinage seems not to have picked up any at all.

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

There was a move at one time to call the pound coin the "Maggie" after Mrs Thatcher. Because it was bold, brassy, and thought it was a sovereign.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I'd not heard that! I can see 'clegg' as a low-denomination coin ("I didn't have a clegg to my name!"), but can't decide which one.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I *love* this!

[oakmouse]

*dies laughing*