When Britain Went Decimal: The coinage of 1971 - by Dr. Mark Stocker

[<k>]

TITLE:  When Britain Went Decimal: The coinage of 1971.

Author: Doctor Mark Stocker

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spink Books (28 Dec. 2021)

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages

Dimensions ‏: ‎ 22.23 x 1.91 x 29.21 cm

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1912667568

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1912667567

Dr. Mark Stocker is an art historian. He was born in England but emigrated to New Zealand as a young man. His research is in late eighteenth to early-mid twentieth century art, particularly British and New Zealand art, and especially sculpture, public monuments and numismatics.

He had intended that his book, When Britain Went Decimal: The coinage of 1971, should have been published in 2021 - the 50th anniversary of decimalisation in the UK. However, the COVID emergency meant that its publication was delayed.

[<k>]

The project to decimalise the UK currency began in 1961. The first chapter of the book is entitled Decimalisation before 1961 and describes the previous debate in the UK around decimalisation and the attempts to push it forward. It includes large illustrations of the first florin and of the Victorian pattern pieces of the 1850s.

From Chapter 2 onwards, the story really kicks off, with an account of the Halsbury Report, which represented the UK parliament's investigation into how decimalisation should be achieved. Once we get to the design stage, Dr. Stocker's expertise as an art historian truly shows with his masses of illustrations of the stages that the designs underwent. There are photos galore of proffered designs by numerous artists, not just by Christopher Ironside, the eventual designer of the reverse designs of the UK decimal coinage. Over the years I have hunted down many images of these unadopted designs, but I was greatly surprised by just how many of these designs I had never seen. The book is lavishly illustrated, and Dr. Stocker clearly spent years researching it.

The politics and decisions behind the scenes are also discussed in detail. Also included are reactions from the press and public at the time, and photos of newspaper headlines. The process of releasing the decimal coins and educating the public is also discussed in detail, with particular emphasis on the heptagonal 50 pence. The coin initially proved controversial with some, but it is now an established favourite with the public, and especially where the circulating commemoratives are concerned.

The final chapter is entitled A decimal miscellany. It takes us briefly through the changes since 1971 and the decimal coinages of the Crown Dependencies and also the introduction of the 20 pence coin and round pound, as well as the new UK design series of 2008. Commemorative coins are largely ignored, being outside the scope of the book.

This is a most generously illustrated book, and Dr. Stocker has clearly had access to many relevant archives, including those of the Royal Mint Museum. It is the most comprehensive account of the UK's decimal coinage and its history that I have read. The book is a must-have for anybody with any level of interest in the UK's decimal coinage.

[<k>]

Such criticisms that I have are minor. I would have included a brief discussion of why the denomination system of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 pence was ultimately chosen, rather than 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 pence. This would explain why we have a 20 pence coin rather than a circulating 25 pence coin in the UK. (Yes, I do know the answer to that one).

I would also have included the story of the 1973 commemorative 50 pence, which I have described in this topic:

The "Illegal" 50p and the Death of "NEW PENCE".

The topic explains why it took so long to remove the word NEW from the UK coins.

[chrisild]

That process was definitely easier in neighboring Ireland. They had used "d" and "s" for the pre-decimal penny and shilling on the coins. The decimal pieces used abbreviations too ("p" and usually "£" for the pound). Now as for how long it sometimes takes to get rid of the word "new", see the case of Israel: FosseWay mentioned that the current shekel was introduced in 1986, and they still use the word "new".

[<k>]

FosseWay mentioned that the current shekel was introduced in 1986, and they still use the word "new".

I imagine that Israeli members of the public no longer use the word "new".

[Mister T]

He had intended that his book, When Britain Went Decimal: The coinage of 1971, should have been published in 2021 - the 50th anniversary of decimalisation in the UK. However, the COVID emergency meant that its publication was delayed.

Oh no wonder - I saw the 2021 and was wondering how I'd missed this.