alistairolsen
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 07:37 AM |
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Morning musing, coin sizes?
I was standing in the que this morning idly shuffling money in my hand and trying to decide whether it was more correct to put them in order if
denomination or physical size when I wondered why the physical sizes are not based on their denomination?
Can anyone tell me what the rationale is behind the sizes and shapes of uk coins?
Cheers!
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daviep
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 07:41 AM |
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Don't know but I always arrange by size 
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skinned knuckles
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 07:43 AM |
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cant tell you about the rationale behind coin sizes, but i always arrange them in physical size. they just look wrong in numerical size.
A man isn't complete until he's married, then he's finished
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coozer
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 07:47 AM |
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And, whats the point?
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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02GF74
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 07:48 AM |
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I thought the £ 2 coin is sized to weigh twice as much as two £ 1 coins.
similarly the 2p and 1p and maybe the 10p and 5 p.
Notice how in recent years the coins have become smaller 10p, 5p, an underhand trick by the government to steel metal from our pockets  yet are
worth less than in previous years!!??
When I were lad, 5p could buy you a night's stay in a cheap Bournemouth hotel.
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balidey
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 08:05 AM |
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Can't answer why.
But I agree with the above, its got to be sorted by size.
Locostbuilders, setting the world right one silly step at a time
Dutch bears have terrible skin due to their clogged paws
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deezee
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 08:09 AM |
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I think its dating back to when currency was the value of the metal it is made out of.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 09:05 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
an underhand trick by the government to steel metal from our pockets
A very apt typo - most 'copper' coins these days are plated steel, as copper alloy is worth more than the face value of the coins!
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 09:10 AM |
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Apparently size doesn't matter 
waits........
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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matt_claydon
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 10:02 AM |
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I think it's logical so coins can easily be identified at a glance and by feel:
Small and large 'copper' coins, round, smooth edge
Small and large 'silver' coins, round, ridged edge
Small and large heptagonal coins
Small and large 'gold' coins, thick, ridged edge (the old £2 coin was just like a £1 but twice the mass, the new one is a bit out of
logic).
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 10:15 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by matt_claydon
I think it's logical so coins can easily be identified at a glance and by feel:
Small and large 'copper' coins, round, smooth edge
Small and large 'silver' coins, round, ridged edge
Small and large heptagonal coins
Small and large 'gold' coins, thick, ridged edge (the old £2 coin was just like a £1 but twice the mass, the new one is a bit out of
logic).
aye, the range of sizes and shapes makes sense, theyre just out of order 
the 5p should be the 1p and copper coloured, the 1p the 5 and silver. The 20p should be the 2p and copper and so on....
Someone somewhere must have decided on the current range for some reason that made sense at the time
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tegwin
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 11:58 AM |
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Cant complain..
Have you tried to use the Euro? all the lasted things look/feel exactly the same!
Atleast with Pound sterling you can count how much money you have in your pocket without actually having to look!
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Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
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Confused but excited.
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 01:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
When I were lad, 5p could buy you a night's stay in a cheap Bournemouth hotel.
To think that I thought I was old.
I can remember getting into the pictures for a 'tanner' (2.5p). Now you are lucky if you can do it for a tenner.
Tell them about the bent treacle edges!
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morcus
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| posted on 14/4/10 at 04:11 PM |
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The reasons why they are sized as they are are quite complex but basically boil down to being worth the value of the metal itself a long time ago. I
believe that the coin sizes for new money have something to do with the sizes of old money (Shillings look like 10p's).
I really like how our coinage is as said above, some systems (Most that I've experienced) you have to actually read through all the coins to fin
out what they are. Also I've always thought that euro coins look and feel of a lower quality than sterling, same for NZ$, I've got a small
pile of silver coins from NZ and they're all about the same size, some have indents on te sides. Why were you ordering up your money? If I had
to I'd do it by value.
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 15/4/10 at 06:58 AM |
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I was just idly rearranging my pocket change in my hand standing in the que and thinking irrelevant thoughts
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