[HPFGU-OTChatter] Three shillings--for the UK'ers

[Neil Ward]

Dee said:

<< For those who are in UK, I have a few questions for you. First, do you
guys still use shillings?  Second, if you can get your hands on them, how
much would it be to send me three shillings?? (shipping and conversion)

It's for a fellow list-member, who's been lurking (old_evil_one; email:
old_evil_one at yahoo.com). >>

Dee, what a strange request!  I'll certainly check my drawers for some old
coins on the off chance that there are shillings lurking therein.  I'm not
too sure I like the idea of sending money to someone called "old evil one",
however, but I won't ask <g>

The shilling was replaced exactly with the 5p (five pence) piece when we
changed to decimal coinage in the early 70s.  The first 5p coins were the
same size and general appearance as the old shilling, so the old shillings
counted as 5p for a while after.  They were later reduced in size so that
they could slip down the back of the sofa more easily.  The two shilling
piece, or half-crown, became the 10p piece in much the same way, and also
got downsized.

Neil (who remembers when pounds, shillings and pence were known as l-s-d.
No wonder the 60s were such a daze).