Loving the hobby

[UK Decimal +]

During the two months that I have been a member of World of coins, I have got to know some interesting people, and I've met one member face-to-face; he now lives in another continent but used to live a couple of roads away from where I am and was visiting his old home town.   Two people have been kind and helped me with my collection and asked for nothing in return, although the favour is being repaid.

It is surprising how many personal messages and emails are sent between members, both about coins and also personal conversations.   Sometimes we discuss possible future articles for inclusion in the forum.

I don't think that I know any other forum where such good relations exist.   We may have differences of opinion but do not let this spoil the friendly atmosphere.

When I first joined, my only interest was UK decimals.   I have a collection of them which will never be complete unless we change to the €uro.   I grew up with £sd and was actively involved in the change over to £p on 14/15 February 1971, updating all the prices in my local pub on the Saturday evening and being the first member of staff on duty on Sunday lunchtime.   The takings during that session were a record.

My interests have grown to pre-decimal with emphasis on earlier coins that are, in theory at least, not demonetised, and also a few others.   I have contacted a dealer with whom I get on well and trust; his service is excellent.   I have not ventured onto eBay as I think that trust has to be earned and there seem to be a lot of things advertised there that seem to need experience of the subject before committing oneself.   I still need to learn a lot here first.   I have never liked auctions and other forms of bargaining and prefer to see something marked at a definite price which I can either accept or reject.

I read, however briefly, every message that is posted in the forum and have been known to join in with topics outside my sphere.   It is all good experience.   This is increasing my knowledge considerably, not only about coins but also about conditions in various countries at various times.

This 'living room' is a very useful addition to the forum as it helps us to get to know each other.   Long live the forum!

Bill.

[Galapagos]

My own recollection of the change-over to decimal involves memories of lots of maths lessons preparing us for it. I was 13 years old at the time. Because I was already adept in pounds, shillings and pence, I found the decimal system easy because it was simpler.

Most of the new coinage had actually been released before the change-over. The 5p and 10p were released in 1968 and circulated as one shilling and two shillings. After the change-over, the one shilling and two shillings coins were retained for around 20 years and circulated as the equivalent of 5p and 10p coins. The sixpence was also kept, and circulated as two-and-a-half pence. And in 1969 the ten shilling note was replaced by the 50p coin, which circulated as 10 shillings.

So by the time of the change-over, the decimal halfpenny, penny and two pence coins were the only new coins we had to get used to.  Because it was done gradually, it went off very well. I sometimes wondered whether it confused foreign visitors, though, to see all those sixpences, shillings and two shillings still in circulation after decimalisation.