This Valentine’s Day, if you’re thinking of romance and candlelit dinners, you’re wasting precious mental energy. Turn your mind instead to the fact that it is the 57th anniversary of decimalisation – when Australia ditched pounds, shillings and pence in favour of dollars and cents.
Though driven by economic imperatives, decimalisation was of great symbolic importance and a logistical and public relations triumph. Here’s a link to a cartoon that formed part of the PR campaign: Dollar Bill and Australians Keep the Wheels of Industry Turning
Some of the super-cool things you will discover include the fact that the first 50c piece was circular – see photo of one resting on Conan’s mighty noggin.
You will also learn about ‘seigniorage’, and why King Charles III’s head will be facing left.
This Valentine’s Day, if you’re thinking of romance and candlelit dinners, you’re wasting precious mental energy. Turn your mind instead to the fact that it is the 57th anniversary of decimalisation – when Australia ditched pounds, shillings and pence in favour of dollars and cents.
Though driven by economic imperatives, decimalisation was of great symbolic importance and a logistical and public relations triumph. Here’s a link to a cartoon that formed part of the PR campaign: Dollar Bill and Australians Keep the Wheels of Industry Turning
Some of the super-cool things you will discover include the fact that the first 50c piece was circular – see photo of one resting on Conan’s mighty noggin.
You will also learn about ‘seigniorage’, and why King Charles III’s head will be facing left.