After showing a friend's grandchildren some old pennies I had they asked me how much they were worth in today's money. I went on to explain about pennies,shillings and pounds. This lead to mention of farthings, halfpennies, threepenny bits, sixpences, florins half crowns, ten shilling and pound notes. They were astonished.
Further conversation lead to explaining inches, feet, yards, chains, furlongs and miles for measurement of length followed by ounces, pounds, quarters, stones, hundredweights and tons for weight,along with fluid ounces, pints and gallons for liquid measures.
All seemed easy when I was a child at school and I used to relish
working out the maths problems set by the teachers combining the various systems.
Children today only have to cope with decimal systems, quite a simple idea – so why is it that I still ask “What's that in old money?” when given a measurement in centimetres or a weight in grams?
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I can just remember the old money and vague memories sitting watchin TV and programmes to do with decimilization and Dad scratching his head trying to work it all out. I remember the old coins, have some around the house and the sixpence being given as a treat and running to sweet shop to spend it. Likewise imperial measurements though I remember being taught the new metric way I still go back to the old ways. I will measure or weigh out of choice the old ways. Then have to convert to metric so I am understood if buying something! I too will say so what's that in old money then?! So being a youngster and remembering the old ways…