‘D Day’: UK marks 50 years since decimalisation

On 15 February 1971, Britain finally moved to a system that made sense to ‘every man who looked at his 10 fingers’ It’s 50 years since the UK’s currency went decimal, ditching tanners, shillings and florins and introducing new coins including the 1p piece. The anniversary of Decimal Day on Monday 15 February 1971 marks when Britain finally moved to a system based on units of 10. Under the old system, which had been in place for hundreds of years, there were 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings, or 240 pence, in a pound. Read full story