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Question: Coins in pre-decimal era!?
I was reading a criticism of the decimalization of coins in the UK!. The writer was talking about the connection with British history--wondering if his grandfather had used that penny to go to the local market, or if American GIs had used it in WWI!. He went on and on, making me think that the coins were actually that old!. Was it common for pre-decimal UK coins to be generations old, or was he just waxing poetic!? Here in the USA generally the Treasury department weeds out coins that are more than 10 years old!. A twenty year old coin would raise an eyebrow!. Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Before decimalisation in 1971, you would often find a 40+ year old shilling or half crown in your pocket!. (shilling = 5p, half crown = 12!.5p)

Old Coins were not phased out here in the UK cos of their age!. Only if they went out of circulation!. I remember shillings with GeorgeV head engraved on it (he was King in the 1930's I think) Occasionally you would find a penny with Queen Victoria's head stamped on it!

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Hi, yes some of the coins in circulation before we went decimal could have been quite old!. When the price of silver went up high in the late 60's a lot of victorian silver was sold for the metal value, they had no value as collectors items as they were too worn!. A victorian shilling would have been worth £1, and a pre 1947 would have been worth 10 shillings!. also earlier,the TSB bank did a saving scheme and you had to collect one penny from each date, then take them in to open an account!. I remember seeing loads of pennies going back years laid out on a board, many early victorian, as the head side on her coins changed as she got older!. So the oldest could have been as early as 1860!.
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some of the coins were really old, mainly the pennies, which were quite big were nearly worn flat!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I have in my possession a few ww2 and 1900 coins that would have still been circulating in 1950s!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes - I am old enough to remember decimalisation in UK!.

Coins that were minted before that did tend to stay in circulation for a very long time!. I remember old pennies that were almost black in colour, they were that old!. I was always amazed when new coins came out and I could see the true colour of them!.

And yes, people were more 'attached' to old coins!. They all had names given to them

- A farthing
A ha'penny (1/2 pence)
- a Bob ( a shilling)
A thrupenee bit (three pence piece)
a Florin (two shillings/two bob)
A half Crown (two shillings and 6 pence)
A Crown (5 shillings)

After that it was notes ( a ten bob note)!.

There was no 'P' abbreviation for pence (the abbreviation was 'd') so coins were never referred to as 10p, 20p etc as in modern times!.

There are still people who talk about the great decimalisation swindle in 1971!. I remember that chewing gum were 1d each (1 old pence) and I could buy 12 for a shilling!. The next day they were only 1/2 new pence each, so I could buy 10 for 5p (equivalent of a shilling)!. Exactly the same type of coin was used for both transactions, yet all the kids lost out!.Www@QuestionHome@Com