Page 19 - 2015-03

th
On the 14 of February 1966 …
Who, over the age of 60 can forget those words.

Those words from the TV jingle promoting the introduction
of decimal currency still linger in my ears, even now, 50 years
after it was introduced.
Those old enough to remember the old pounds, shillings and
pence system, could hardly look back at the time with fond
memories. What a useless system!

It is interesting to consider just how that currency system
would operate now, with computers and calculators, all
operating on base 10.

We are fortunate that we ended up with the sensible dollars and cents for our currency like
other parts of the world. Robert Menzies, the Prime Minister of the day wanted to call the base
unit a “royal” – could you imaging it? “Three royals fifty for that cup of coffee please!”
As part of the change over, thankfully the silliest part of the old LSD system, the Guinea ( £1.1.0)
- (one pound and one shilling, or $2.10 in today’s money), was consigned to history.
Images:
“Dollar Bill”, the animated character used to promote the introduction to decimal currency, and a sam-
ple of Home Cinemas’ Pathé advertising from the 1950s (Melbourne Argus - Trove)
Footnote: Pathé “H” camera shown at left at £35/8/9. At the time, the average weekly wage was around
£16/-/-, making the cost a little over two weeks earnings.
- 8mm Kodak presstape X 20 = $8 a pack
Using today’s average weekly wage, that would put the price well over $2000.00!

REEL DEALS March 2016 19