In the days before decimalisation, if you took a look at the change in your pocket, you could find coins that dated back nearly a century. If you were really lucky it was possible to find a coin dating back to the reign of William IV or George IV and certainly many of the delightful 'bun' pennies issued during Queen Victoria's reign could be found. How different from today, when the oldest coins you would see are the 50p pieces introduced in October 1969.
The highest value and largest coin was the half-crown (it was worth two shillings and sixpence - the equivalent of 12-and-a-1/2p today). Its impressive size led to its popularity with children as for many it was far more that a week's pocket money! So if you were given a half-crown as a present you felt very special indeed.
People had taken such great care with the half-crown that when the coin was withdrawn from circulation the Mint was surprised to receive back more than were thought to be in circulation!
The florin was a comparatively new coin amongst its pre-decimal counterparts, having been introduced in 1849 as a concession to those who favoured a decimal system. Being a two-shilling piece it circulated alongside the 10p quite comfortably when the process of decimalisation took place.
The biggest disadvantage of the florin was its similarity in size to the half-crown and although their designs were very different they could be easily confused.
The shilling was a favourite coin with the popular nick-name of 'bob', which you can still hear used occasionally on the television. And of course it was the inspiration for the Boy Scouts 'Bob-a-Job Week', though can you imagine being paid just 5p for washing a car or cleaning windows?
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During winter months shillings were often hard to come by as large numbers were locked up in electricity and gas meters. There were more sixpences in circulation in the 1960s than any of the other �sd coins, with the exception of the penny. So it was no surprise when a campaign to 'Save Our Sixpence' was launched and the sixpence allowed to remain legal tender for some years after decimalisation.
Affectionately known as a 'tanner' it was a very useful coin and many chose to save it, for some reason using old whisky bottles for the purpose.
The nickel-brass threepence appeared in 1937, replacing the charming small silver coin. To avoid confusion the new coin was made unusually thick and had twelve sides, making it easily recognisable during the blackouts of the War years, when to protect the nation from airborne attacks no lights could be shown at night.
Of the coins in circulation the penny had the longest continuous history, tracing its origins to Anglo-Saxon times and beyond. With pennies from 1860 remaining legal tender many collectors tried to build up long runs of dates. The Mint often received letters from people desperately seeking dates they couldn't find, in particular the legendary penny of 1933.
During its last years in circulation a halfpenny could buy little other than a few sweets. Nevertheless, large numbers of halfpennies continued to be required for change-giving.
It is hardly surprising that many grown-ups and children were so fond of these coins with their fascinating histories that they took some out of circulation as souvenirs as D-Day approached. This sense of keeping a piece of history was certainly reflected in the sale of more than 700,000 Proof sets in 1970, minted deliberately to contain the last �sd coins.
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