Stephenson:Neal:Cryptonomicon:116:massive British coinage...(Electricinca)

From the Quicksilver Metaweb.

In the novel Cryptonomicon, Lawrence Waterhouse a mathematically inclined American cryptoanalyst is in Wartorn WWII-era London with what he describes as Massive British Coinage that clanks in his pocket like pewter dinner plates.

Decimal coinage was adopted as the official currency of the United Kingdom on February 15, 1971, One Pound Sterling made up of one hundred pence. Pre-decimal coinage was more complicated in its denominations.

£1 = 20 Shillings = 240 Pence.

1 Shilling = 12 Pence = 2 Sixpences = 4 Threepences

1 Penny = 2 Halfpennies = 4 Farthings.

In addition there were other coins.

1 Crown = 2 Halfcrowns = 5 shillings.

1 Florin = 2 shillings. Listed below are the diameters in mm and weight in grams of the various denominations of coin during World War II.

Denomination	Diameter	Weight	Alloy
Crown	38.61	28.3	Cupro-nickel
Halfcrown	32.0	14.2	Cupro-nickel
Florin	29.50	11.3	Cupro-nickel
Shilling	23.59	5.6	Cupro-nickel
Sixpence	19.17	2.4	Cupro-nickel
Threepence	16.2	1.2	Silver
Penny	30.3	9.6	Bronze
Halfpenny	25.91	5.6	Bronze
Farthing	20.32	2.8	Bronze