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General Philatelic/Newcomer Cnr : Question about decimals

 

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devildog

23 Aug 2015
01:59:14pm
Can some one tell me what decimals and pre decimals are and were they are located on a stamp. Thanks for any info
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BobbyBarnhart
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin

23 Aug 2015
03:19:49pm
re: Question about decimals

I have only heard the term applied to stamps of the United Kingdom and its associated areas. Pre decimals refers to stamps with denominations in pence and shillings; decimals in, well, decimals (100 pennies = 1 pound (UK) or 1 dollar (Australia, NZ). I am sure someone can, and will provide a more detail answer.

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amsd
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Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads

23 Aug 2015
03:24:57pm

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re: Question about decimals

yo, dog,

decimals and pre-decimals refers to a period. Wait, that doesn't clarify anything, now does it?

Let me start again. Once upon a time, Englad had currency base 12 (ever wonder why the first stamp had 240 stamps instead of 200?). Later, they converted to base 10 (latin for ten is decca; and from that decade, decadent {ten teeth}, decapage {very short book}, and decimal). So, what's really being said is that pre-decimal period (sorry, decimal, dot, and period all seem the same) is measured in 12 pennies to the shilling; afterwards, 100 pennies to the pound.

Perhaps a more learned GB specialist will correct my math, or Bobby may merely slap my wrist ten times

Dekka David


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Guthrum
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23 Aug 2015
06:27:12pm
re: Question about decimals

The first GB decimal stamps were issued on 17 June 1970 - four large-format high-value Machins at 10p, 20p, 50p and £1. Note that the £ sign remained the same both before and after decimalisation, but the pence sign changed from 'd' (Latin, denarius) to 'p' (English, pence). Since then, as noted above, the UK and associated areas have maintained this system and presumably will do so unless at some future date we convert to Euros (which seems unlikely).

The last GB pre-decimals were a set of 5 'Literary Anniversaries' issued 3 June 1970 at 5d. (four stamps) and 1s.6d. The latter denomination shows the base-12 pre-decimal system: it is actually one and a half shillings or, as we would say, 'one shilling and sixpence', or 'one and sixpence' or just 'one and six'. It could be written, as on the stamp, '1/6'.

A simple way to convert old money to new was to remove the oblique and divide by two: thus 1s.6d, 1/6, converted to 8p.

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Stevo45
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06 Sep 2015
06:28:28am
re: Question about decimals

Hi guys,

In Australia 1966 was the change over year - Up to 1966, Pounds shillings and pence (Pre-decimal) - 1966 and later Dollars and cents (Decimal).

Some (Most) of the 1965 (pre-decimal stamps) were re-issued with the values changed to the Dollar equivalent in 1966.

Steve.

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Rob1956
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My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland

06 Sep 2015
01:05:19pm
re: Question about decimals

1965 pre-decimal and 1966 decimal stamps of the same design.

Image Not Found Image Not Found

Australia switched to decimal currency on February 14, 1966 (St. Valentines Day).

£1 = $2
10/- = $1
5/- = 50c
2/- = 20c
12p = 10c
1/- = 10c
6d = 5c
3d = 2c
2d = 2c
1d - 1c
½d - 0

The Australian government allowed both pre-decimal and decimal currency to be used together for two years and after 1968 the former currency was officially phased out.

The last issues of the 1965 series (birds and Navigators) were re-issued under the new currency.


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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
        

 

Author/Postings
devildog

23 Aug 2015
01:59:14pm

Can some one tell me what decimals and pre decimals are and were they are located on a stamp. Thanks for any info

Like
Login to Like
this post

They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
23 Aug 2015
03:19:49pm

re: Question about decimals

I have only heard the term applied to stamps of the United Kingdom and its associated areas. Pre decimals refers to stamps with denominations in pence and shillings; decimals in, well, decimals (100 pennies = 1 pound (UK) or 1 dollar (Australia, NZ). I am sure someone can, and will provide a more detail answer.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"

www.bobbybarnhart.ne ...
Members Picture
amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
23 Aug 2015
03:24:57pm

Auctions

re: Question about decimals

yo, dog,

decimals and pre-decimals refers to a period. Wait, that doesn't clarify anything, now does it?

Let me start again. Once upon a time, Englad had currency base 12 (ever wonder why the first stamp had 240 stamps instead of 200?). Later, they converted to base 10 (latin for ten is decca; and from that decade, decadent {ten teeth}, decapage {very short book}, and decimal). So, what's really being said is that pre-decimal period (sorry, decimal, dot, and period all seem the same) is measured in 12 pennies to the shilling; afterwards, 100 pennies to the pound.

Perhaps a more learned GB specialist will correct my math, or Bobby may merely slap my wrist ten times

Dekka David


Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"

juicyheads.com/link. ...
Members Picture
Guthrum

23 Aug 2015
06:27:12pm

re: Question about decimals

The first GB decimal stamps were issued on 17 June 1970 - four large-format high-value Machins at 10p, 20p, 50p and £1. Note that the £ sign remained the same both before and after decimalisation, but the pence sign changed from 'd' (Latin, denarius) to 'p' (English, pence). Since then, as noted above, the UK and associated areas have maintained this system and presumably will do so unless at some future date we convert to Euros (which seems unlikely).

The last GB pre-decimals were a set of 5 'Literary Anniversaries' issued 3 June 1970 at 5d. (four stamps) and 1s.6d. The latter denomination shows the base-12 pre-decimal system: it is actually one and a half shillings or, as we would say, 'one shilling and sixpence', or 'one and sixpence' or just 'one and six'. It could be written, as on the stamp, '1/6'.

A simple way to convert old money to new was to remove the oblique and divide by two: thus 1s.6d, 1/6, converted to 8p.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Stevo45

06 Sep 2015
06:28:28am

re: Question about decimals

Hi guys,

In Australia 1966 was the change over year - Up to 1966, Pounds shillings and pence (Pre-decimal) - 1966 and later Dollars and cents (Decimal).

Some (Most) of the 1965 (pre-decimal stamps) were re-issued with the values changed to the Dollar equivalent in 1966.

Steve.

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.ebid.net/au/stor ...
Members Picture
Rob1956

My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland
06 Sep 2015
01:05:19pm

re: Question about decimals

1965 pre-decimal and 1966 decimal stamps of the same design.

Image Not Found Image Not Found

Australia switched to decimal currency on February 14, 1966 (St. Valentines Day).

£1 = $2
10/- = $1
5/- = 50c
2/- = 20c
12p = 10c
1/- = 10c
6d = 5c
3d = 2c
2d = 2c
1d - 1c
½d - 0

The Australian government allowed both pre-decimal and decimal currency to be used together for two years and after 1968 the former currency was officially phased out.

The last issues of the 1965 series (birds and Navigators) were re-issued under the new currency.


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2 Members
like this post.
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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
        

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