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I was a young reporter on a local paper when the 50p coin came in. We were sent early early samples a few days in advance of general circulation and I got the job of trying to palm them off as worth ten bob in local shops. Surprising that nobody batted an eyelid.
Some old biddies when the new currency became standard in '71, though, found that they and their customers were so bewildered that they simply shut up shop.
On D-Day itself, I recall Ena Sharples on the UK TV soap 'Coronation Street' (Ena was never backward in coming forward in her political views in the snug of the Rover's Return) said: "It's the greatest con trick ever perpetrated against the British public."
By the way, did you know that the old 12 unit for measuing coinage and length was the invention of mathematicians long before Rome adopted it to some extent? The reason is pretty simple: Take the tip of your thumb and use it to touch the three joints in each of the four fingers of that hand. Voila -- twelve. I think it's of Sumarian origin.
Cheers. Neil
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