OK, the "half-pence", (pronounced hape-nee) was not the smallest coin,
if I remember correctly, after having been here in the USA for 45
years.

I think the 'farthing' was the smallest, or maybe a silver thrupenny
bit. (They used to put these in the christmas pudding as a kind of
good luck charm)

Farthing was a quarter penny. At 240 pence to the pound, you can
imagine how valuable it was.

ISTR that 60 years ago a pound bought you about $4-80

Let the Record show that "newshound" on or
about Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:30:18 +0100 did write/type or cause to
appear in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:
OK, the "half-pence", (pronounced hape-nee) was not the smallest coin,
if I remember correctly, after having been here in the USA for 45
years.

I think the 'farthing' was the smallest, or maybe a silver thrupenny
bit. (They used to put these in the christmas pudding as a kind of
good luck charm)

Farthing was a quarter penny. At 240 pence to the pound, you can
imagine how valuable it was.

ISTR that 60 years ago a pound bought you about $4-80

Considering that originally, an English Pound was just that - a
pound of silver, it makes sense.
-
pyotr filipivich
We will drink no whiskey before its nine.
It's eight fifty eight. Close enough!