A contributor to The Poetry Olympian: Michael Horovitz at 75 mentioned Michael’s skill as a childhood busker – he always demanded & got a minimum contribution of 1d (one old penny).
Less than a half of one new penny, a coin which itself must be on the verge of extinction, especially now that £1 rather than 99p is the magic number. But it was a real achievement to extort a whole penny when the farthing was still in circulation.
The farthing was still current in my childhood; it seemed especially child friendly, because of its size & its friendly wren. When they came off the ration you could buy sweets with a farthing.
And just think: there were 960 of them to £1. Literally, in round numbers, ten to a modern penny.
And just think: there were 960 of them to £1. Literally, in round numbers, ten to a modern penny.
