SYND 15-2-71 THE FIRST DAY OF DECIMALISED CURRENCY IN THE UK

(15 Feb 1971) A special report on Britain's first day of decimnal currency after 800 years of pounds, shillings and pence.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

[@jebediahkerman8245]

"If I had had six fingers on each hand, it'd be a different story." This is the smartest comment.

[@roberthorwat6747]

For me (being a ten year old kid at the time) the change over was a breeze! The only thing was the price of bus fares, comics and sweets were never the lower decimal equivalent as stated on the conversion table. The bastards rounded up every time😡

[@merseydave1]

The Pound did not capitulate, it just went decimal and much easier to inter-exchange with other currencies.

[@cristobalito1966]

And it took decades for the UK to change to g and kg and it is still in measurement chaos in 2023!!

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

All I can say is be thankful the USA had a decimal currency from the beginning or theyd still be refusing to decimalize and calling anyone who wanted to do so an un American commie

[@PopeLando]

50 years ago today.

[@CallieMasters5000]

Damn, Britain looked dreary af.

[@malcolm4672]

Looks like Clapham junction fare on the board at 0.41 in video. 2019 fare is 6.80p

[@hebneh]

Presumably the man at

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

This was interesting

[@Moneytane1976]

The 70s caught up quickly, 70s perm and leather jacket with flares. The dude joking about 6 fingers was laughing the acronym also being for acid. And who the fuck would pay £10.50 or 10 guineas for that hideous hotpants suspenders thing (Very Leo Sayer)

[@malthusXIII-fo3ep]

Heath did not realise that this would boost inflation.

[@johnking5174]

Old money was 12 pence in a shilling - 20 shillings in a pound - 240 pence in a pound. New money was just 100 new pence to a pound.

[@l27tester]

It's Y2 71 :)

[@jogzyg2036]

1:42

[@QuarioQuario54321]

Would have made things a little easier if they changed the name of the currency too, which is what most of the rest of the countries that used pounds shillings and pence did.

[@angelacooper2661]

I was too young to understand, never mind remember. Eight months old and in the pram at that time. So I never had to deal with the old currency!

[@AussieKim42]

That voice - it’s Ted Bullpit! ;) (Ross Higgins)

[@dariowiter3078]

Britain should have gone to the decimal system either in 1700 or 1800, not February 15, 1971. 😒😒😒😒😒 💷💷💷💷💷

[@stephenmatura1086]

There wasn't any chaos as we'd already had three years handling the 5p, 10p and 50p coins which were the direct equivilent of the 1/-, 2/- and 10/- coins/note. It was only the coppers that took a bit of getting used to.