Probably only Interesting to me

[wlewisiii]

I had these coin folders for most of my collection that I didn't trust the plastic in. So I bought new binder and some better sheets like I've been using for my shilling run and transferred everything over today. While moving the Elizabeth II sets - both l/s/d & decimal - I noticed something that struck me as interesting. 

Back when the UK changed to decimal, the new 5p & 10p were made the size and weight of the shilling and florin respectively. That ended in 1990 and then over the next couple of years the 5p, 10p, and 50p were made physically smaller. 

Also in there though the £1 coins and the £2 coins were introduced. The bi-metal £1 is essentially the same diameter and just a bit heavier than a shilling was. The bi-metal £2 coin is almost exactly the size and weight of the florin. I looked at the value of the 1966 shilling at the Bank of England's inflation calculator and even more humorously, the shillings buying power then was £0.82 in December of 2025 - a florin equaling £1.74 now. Not too far off from £1 & £2 pound coins! 

Perhaps the UK should introduce a circulating £5 coin of 32.5mm and 14.14 grams... ? 🤣