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I can remember when they 'called in' the old halfpenny, because we gathered them all up and went down to Mrs Dibble's shop (junction of Plassey Street and Albert Road, Penarth) to blow them all on sweets.
And that's another thing - Black Jacks, Fruit Salads, Parma Violets, humbugs, Bazooka Joe bubble gum, flying saucers, Spanish Root, Pirates Gold, sweet cigarettes....
The old florin before 1938 I think had a significantly higher value because of its silver content. Back in the 60's there was quite a market in selling them to certain people who would melt them down and reclaim the silver. All strictly illegal of course. Defacing a coin of the realm etc.
Also 5 shillings was called a dollar as at the time there were 4 Dollars to the pound. My Dad and Uncles always referred to it as that so naturally I did as well.
I agree about the mental arithmetic but it wasn't only money. 16 ounces to pound, 14 pounds to a stone 8 stone to a Cwt, 20 cwt to a ton lol. A barrel, a ferkin, a tun, a gross, then you had feet and inches (Yes we still have) chains, poles, furlongs, leagues and many more.
And the names of coins, tanner as you said, thrupence thrupenny bit, florin half a crown/dollar, ha'penny, tuppence, shilling, ten bob. I can still recall old guys in the pub calling a pound a sov.
Using a lolly stick to get coins out of telephone boxes......