Decimal Day 15 February 1971
oly
United Kingdom went to the decimal system.
I usually don't care for links to newspaper articles, but the
following article is better written than most and the following
comments are interesting too:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/8318917/Cash-in-on-your-coins.html
If you can perform the old L/s/d calculations today, you're probably
some form of coin collector!!!
oly
Ice Torch
released on "D-Day". The 5p and 10p coins were first released in 1968,
and they circulated alongside shillings and florins. 5p was equal to a
shilling, and the coins were identical in size shape and weight; the
same went for the 10p and its counterpart the florin (two shillings).
The 50p was released in 1969. Come D-Day, only the half penny, penny
and two pence remained to be released. This is one reason why the
changeover went so smoothly - the population was already well
acquainted with all the cupro-nickel decimal coins.
In addition, the popularity of the old sixpence meant that it was
allowed to stay on as the equivalent of two and a half new pence. It
soon became very unpopular and was demonetised in 1980. The five pence
was replaced by a smaller version in 1990, and the shilling was
belatedly demonetised not long after. The ten pence was replaced by a
smaller version in 1992, and so the florin (two shillings) was also
belatedly demonetised shortly after that. The effect was to remove all
coins bearing the portrait of King George VI from circulation; only
Queen Elizabeth remained on our circulating coins.
Before decimalisation, all the monarchs of the 20th century were
present on our UK circulating coinage, back to the bun head and veiled
head portraits of Queen Victoria. Some coins came in two versions: the
GVI coins with and without "IND IMP" (Emperor of India); the Elizabeth
coins with "OMN BRITT" (1953) and without it, from 1954 onwards. So
with decimalisation, we actually lost a lot of variety. Over the years
since then, however, we have seen three different portraits of Queen
Elizabeth on the decimal circulation coins. We have also added 20p,
one pound and two pound coins to our circulating coins, and the 50p,
pound and two pound coins also circulate in standard and yearly
commemorative versions. So, variety was lost, but also eventually
gained.
Ice Torch.
oly
I wasn't aware that the sixpence survived as long as it did, but given
that there was a half-penny until 1982 or so, that makes some sense.
I encountered both George VI shillings and florins (post-1945 dated
coins) in circulation on my first trip to England back in 1985. But
they had good old Routemaster buses back then too!!!
oly
Ice Torch
The sixpence, shilling and two shilling coins that were still
circulatiing well after decimalisation must have been very confusing
for foreigners.
oly
Actually, on my first trip to England, I recieved (two) 5 Pound notes
on different Scottish banks, and those were the thingies that scared
me a bit. Five pence or ten pence (the equivalents of the shilling
and florin) didn't shake me, but 5 pounds was two pints at the time,
and gee, you hate to get shorted two pints!!! But those two Scottish
notes were readily accepted for admission to the Tower, so that was
good enough for me.
I've never recieved another Scottish note on any subsequent visits.
It is my understanding that in England (and Wales) and in Northern
Ireland, people can legally refuse to accept these notes (i.e., they
aren't legal tender outside of Scotland, but rather are optional forms
of payment). If I'm wrong on that point, please feel free to say so.
oly
Ice Torch
> On Feb 12, 8:20 am, Ice Torch <iceto...@rocketmail.com> wrote:
>
> Actually, on my first trip to England, I recieved (two) 5 Pound notes
> notes were readily accepted for admission to the Tower, so that was
> good enough for me.
>
> I've never recieved another Scottish note on any subsequent visits.
> It is my understanding that in England (and Wales) and in Northern
> Ireland, people can legally refuse to accept these notes (i.e., they
> aren't legal tender outside of Scotland, but rather are optional forms
> of payment). If I'm wrong on that point, please feel free to say so.
>
> oly
The situation regarding banknotes in the UK is as follows: only Bank
of England notes are legal tender - but ONLY in England and Wales!
They are not legal tender in Scotland or Northern Ireland. What's
more, Scottish notes are not even legal tender in Scotland, and
Northern Irish notes are not legal tender in Northern Ireland. And you
are correct, Britons are legally entitled to refuse anything that is
not legal tender.
I know that banknotes of all the countries and islands are accepted in
Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, but I can't tell you whether
they have legal status there.
For an interesting and amusing take on the complexities and anomalies
of the UK, listen to this contribution to YouTube by a knowledgeable
American:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10
I would only disagree with his claim that the countries of the UK are
sovereign and co-equal: a] the individual countries do not have seats
in the UN so are not sovereign; b] the UK is a hierarchy: England and
Scotland are kingdoms; Wales is a mere principality. Therefore
Scotland has a parliament, whilst Wales, like Northern Ireland, has a
mere assembly. Northern Ireland is sometimes wrongly called a
"province" but is best described as a constituent country of the UK.
Ice Torch.