I've got some 1965 uncirculated sets from New Zealand. Most of the coins clearly state the denomination - "ONE SHILLING" "HALF CROWN" etc. But one of them just says "3d". Maybe a third of something? Do they make 1/3 shillings? Does anybody know what this coin is? Thanks -Adam
Adam,prior to 1967,we used the British pre-decimal currency system.What you have there is a set of the final issue of pre-decimal coins. There were 12 Pence (12d.) in 1 Shilling (1/-),& 20 Shillings in 1 Pound. The Half Crown was 2 Shillings & 6 Pence (written as '2/6'). Aidan.
The "d" for British pennies (which itself derives from the Germanic pfennig) probably comes from when Rome occupied the island and the denarius was in use.Early British silver pennies were essentially the same diameter as well as the French denier and the Eastern European dinar and the Venetian grosso.I'm betting the US used this familiar diameter when minting the first dimes,and they remain the same today!Read all about it here: http://www.answers.com/topic/history-of-the-english-penny Here's a visual aid..:kewl:
