Glasgow's 'D-day was a non-event' when city welcomed new coins 50 years ago

It was just a few days after shops in the city had introduced the new system, which had been agreed in 1966. It was a huge shift for a generation used to dealing in 12 pennies to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound.

Now, there were 100 pennies to the pound, and a whole new collections of coins to get one’s head around.

The first of the new coins made their way on to high streets in 1968, giving people time to familiarise themselves with them before the full switch. It was reported that some shoppers initially refused to take them.

Some retail staff were given special training to help customers understand the new money in their purses and wallets. A Decimal Currency Board was also set up to oversee the switchover.

Children in 1969 looking at the new decimal 50 pence coin, the world's first seven sided coin. The switchover to decimal currency - a move which broke with centuries of monetary tradition - happened 50 years ago this month.

Singer Max Bygraves recorded a song called Decimalisation, and TV shows, films and posters helped people to understand the new coinage. To meet the challenge of striking the new coins, a new factory was also needed, along with new machinery, production techniques and processes.

The Evening Times had announced on February 13, two days before decimalisation officially began, that shops would be adding the ‘finishing touches’ to month-long preparations for the move.

“In some cases, such as Woolworths, no after-hours work will be needed as they have been dual pricing for some time,” said the report. “Every major multiple store will open on Monday with decimal prices and expert staff to help customers.”

According to the newspaper, M&S was ahead of the game, and had been training staff since September so would only need ‘about a quarter of an hour’ to change price tags, and the railways were going decimal one day ahead to ‘save long queues and delays on Monday.’

Despite the anticipation, the actual first day of decimalisation – or D-Day, as some were calling it – went without incident in the city.

“Almost non-event, says bank official,” summed up the Evening Times on February 15.

Max Bygraves, who wrote a song about decimalisation. Pic: BBC

“The shops were quiet in and around Glasgow…the verdict? Most folk know their decimals.”

Staff at the city’s railway stations were on hand to help passengers work out their new fares but a spokesperson for British Rail said: “Although it’s early yet the Glasgow people seem to have passed their decimal test.”

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The sums were ‘a bit strange’ said the newspaper, reporting on customers at the Queen Street newspaper kiosk, which had been hit by a power cut just to add to the confusion.

“Packet of cigarettes, tipped, 26p (5s 3d); newspaper two and a half pence or four pence; tube of mints, one and a half pence,” said the report.

“The solution for most customers was to tender the usual handful of florins, wait for the change in shiny new coppers and take what they got without asking any awkward questions.”

A special ‘decimal enquiry desk’ had been set up at the Royal Bank of Scotland in the city centre but staff reported just one query. One visitor to the Clydesdale Bank on St Vincent Place made it clear he could not understand what all the fuss was about.

When Allan Easton, age nine, from Coalburn in Lanarkshire, was asked if he could count the new money, he replied: ‘Och, it’s easy…’

Not everyone got the hang of it right away, however.

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A recent Diary entry in the Evening Times’ sister newspaper The Herald included a memory from Mary Duncan from Garrowhill, who recalls putting 10 gallons of petrol in her car at the Eglinton Toll filling station in 1971, when the price was 33p a gallon.

There were no automatic tills back then, so, according to Mary, the girl at the counter was forced to write down “33” 10 times in a column, which she proceeded to add up, eventually arriving at the total charge of £3.30.