π Historyπ₯ Toplijstπ³ 20 votes
Which old British coin or note do you miss most from before decimal day?
On 15 February 1971 the old money vanished almost overnight and the sums in our heads had to be rewired. Some of those coins still feel warmer in the hand than anything in your purse today. Rank them your way.
Put the items in your preferred order.
A
The threepenny bit
That chunky brass coin with the corners you could feel through your glove. Nan hid one in the Christmas pudding and warned everyone to chew slowly.
B
The ten bob note
A brown-orange note folded into a card from an auntie, and suddenly you were rich. It bought sweets, the pictures and a bag of chips with change left over.
C
The half crown
The real heavyweight of the pocket, so wide it barely fit in a slot machine. Finding one down the back of the settee made your whole week.
D
The farthing with the wren
A little copper coin with a wren, worth next to nothing even then. People kept them in jam jars long after they stopped being spent.
E
The old penny
Great fat pennies with Britannia on the back, some worn smooth from decades of hands. A handful of them weighed down your coat like a bag of washers.
Drag the photo to reorder
