When we were kids, it was, of course, pre-decimalisation. The currency was:-
The value of this was so small that even during the war, it became almost obsolete. The last remaining farthing on anything was on a packet of flour! Oh, and an Oxo Cube!
The Halfpenny – always referred to as a ‘Ha’penny’!
Again, so small in value that there wasn’t anything that I can remember costing a ha’penny.
The Penny.(A ‘Copper’!)
An indispensable coin. Even a public toilet would cost you a penny, and a telephone call would require this coin also.
The Threepenny bit – pronounced ‘thruppenny’!
This, to us kids, was THE coin! For thruppence, you could buy 2 ozs of sweets or a packet of Crisps, or even a small cake. Even Sherbert, if you wanted to! Of course, you probably could not actually get any of these things as the shops simply had none!
The Sixpenny Piece.
Only the older kids ever saw one of these. They would buy you a bar of chocolate! Crikey. Living indeed. To go to the cinema – which we did on a Saturday, would cost you 6d for the morning show or 9d for the Evening show – which was where you would find the girls!!! It also cost 6d for a game of snooker at the Newton Churchmens’ Club at the top of Nottage Road.
The Shilling. (A ‘Bob’!)
Well-known in British history, methinks! Simply too much value to be in the possession of us kids, I’m afraid.
The Two Shilling piece, also known as a ‘Florin’. (2 Bob)
The Half Crown usually referred to as ‘Half a Dollar’ as that was the exchange rate at that time. Also called ‘Two and Six’ and written as 2/6d.
The Pound Note.
El Ultimo!! Nothing larger than this was in general circulation, although a very large sized Five pound Note was available. If you did have one of these, you would have to write your name and address on the back of the note when using it!
Update: Bernard points out, quite correctly, about the silver thruppeny piece;
And the ten bob note;