Decimal Day facts for kids

Decimal Day was a very important day in the United Kingdom (UK). It happened on 15 February 1971. On this day, the UK changed its money system to a simpler, decimal-based way. This means it started using groups of 10, just like our normal numbers.

Before Decimal Day, the UK used a currency system called "£sd". This system used pounds (£), shillings (s), and pence (d). It was a bit complicated! In the old system, one pound (£1) was equal to 20 shillings. And one shilling was equal to 12 pence. So, one pound was actually 240 pence!

In the new decimal system, things became much easier. There are no more shillings. Instead, one pound (£1) is now equal to 100 new pence. These new pence are often shortened to "p". So, £1 = 100p. This change made it much simpler to add, subtract, and work with money.

Why Change the Money?

The UK decided to change its money system for several good reasons. Many other countries around the world already used a decimal system. This made it hard for the UK to trade and do business with them. Imagine trying to convert prices between two very different systems all the time!

Making Life Easier

The old system was also tricky for everyday people. Adding up prices in shops, or giving change, could be quite slow. Think about trying to work out how many shillings and pence you needed for something! The new decimal system made calculations much faster and simpler for everyone, from shopkeepers to schoolchildren.

Getting Ready for the Change

It took a lot of planning to get ready for Decimal Day. The government and banks worked hard to prepare everyone.

New Coins and Notes

New coins were made for the decimal system. Some of these new coins, like the 5p and 10p, were actually introduced a few years before 1971. This helped people get used to them. Banks and shops also had to get ready with new cash registers and learn the new system.

Teaching Everyone

There was a big campaign to teach people about the new money. TV adverts, posters, and leaflets explained how the new coins worked. Children in schools learned about decimalisation in their maths lessons. It was a bit like learning a new language for money!

What Happened on Decimal Day?

On 15 February 1971, the new decimal system officially began. Shops started using the new pence for prices. Banks switched over completely. For a short time, both old and new coins were sometimes used, but soon only the decimal currency was accepted. It was a big day that changed how money worked for millions of people in the UK.

Images for kids

• 

  An introductory pack of the new currency.

• 

  British decimalisation training stamps in the same colours and values as the upcoming decimal stamps

• 

  A "Decimal Adder"

• 

  Cash register in Ireland; the keys have values in "new pence" above and "old pence" below.

See also

In Spanish: Día de la decimalización para niños