Decimal Day

Decimal Day is the name that was given to 15 February 1971 in the United Kingdom (UK). It was the day that the UK decimalised (converted to a decimal-based system of currency). Before that date the UK used the "pound (£) - shilling (s) - pence (d)" currency system. The old system was known as the "£sd" system, after the abbreviations of the unit names. £sd is pronounced L-S-D. In the £sd system £1 = 20s and 1s = 12d, so £1 = 240d. In the new decimal system there are no shillings and there are 100 (new) pence (abbreviated as "p") in a pound - so £1 = 100p.

Decimal Day Media

• 

  British decimalisation training stamps in the same colours and values as the upcoming decimal stamps

• 

  Dave Rendle, scanned in picture of my Decimal Adder (April 2006)

• 

  Along with a few other non-circulating coins, sovereigns (including half, double and quintuple sovereigns) survived decimalisation, and remain legal tender to date, though they have far greater worth as bullion coins and as numismatic collectibles than their face value.

• 

  Cash register in Ireland; the keys have values in "new pence" above and pre-decimal equivalents below.

• 

  One shilling coin stamped "DUD".

• 

  Penny stamped with "WORTHLESS".

• 

  10 New Pence coin stamped "2 SHILLING".