1966 Change To Decimal Currency

The original paper notes were commonly likened to jam tin labels. The green labels on the A.J Lakersteen marmalade tins were almost exactly the same colour as the Two Dollar notes.

There was a lot of petty controversy about rounding up or down (usually up), to the equivalent decimal prices. Talk back radio was full of it.
Actually, I thought the changeover went pretty well, and the official changeover period was officially shortened.

I was living in England for 2 years around the time of changeover to decimal currency in the U.K. They had even less problems than we did. Probably learned from the Australian experience.

I still have the very first One dollar and Two Dollar notes I ever received in my pay packet. They are preserved crisp flat uncirculated between two sheets of perspex. I opted the wrong way. I should have kept the last Ten Shilling and One Pound notes. I rationalise my out of this, because the older notes would not have been CFU.

Advertising jingle, sung by Dollar Bill on black & white TV:
"So be prepared when the money starts to mix on the 14th of February 1966"

The changeover was very well received despite a few grumblings about 'rounding' up or down which a few retailers used to their advantage, but on the whole it went very smoothly. I can't remember having any problems, as for the first decimal coins and notes I got, no idea, too long ago.

Have a look/ listen to this, speakers on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwA64l5SokU

(To the tune of Click Go the Shears)

Check this out Enworb, by coincidence I was just reading it earlier today then I saw your post.
http://www.australian-threepence.co...-changeover/

here's a quote from the blog;
Sydney Harbour Bridge toll collectors continued to hand out shillings to disappointed drivers hoping for 10c pieces as change for their florins. The Decimal Currency Board chairman Sir Walter Scott travelled to work by train on this day watching clerks at the booking offices eyeing off the transition and it's affect on commuters "just going like clockwork this morning" he said.

my recollections of the "changeover" (I was quite young at the time) was that it went very smoothly - but an interesting sideline though is that it took quite a number of years before sixpences (5c equivalent), shillings (10c equivalent) etc stopped being commonly circulated