But I dont want pins!

[computedshorty]

Pre Decimal coinage.

The Haberdashers Shop.

That sold buttons, cotton?s, needles bow?s ribbons and all fancy bits to add to clothing, most also sold School Uniforms.

There was such a shop in Crystal Palace Road facing the Castle Pub.

I remember that mum sent me there to buy some cotton and other bits mum had written on a piece of paper, I watched as the

assistant filled the paper bag, I had been given a two shilling coin to pay for the purchases she said that it cost ? eleven pence three farthings? she handed me a shilling coin and put a packet of pins in the bag.

I said mum did not ask for pins, she said I have not got a Farthing you will have to take the pins in the place of the Farthing.

Of coarse I ran home to tell mum I had been fiddled, mum said that it was alright as they often did that, anyway she was always dropping pins and could not see in the gas light to find them so they would soon come in handy.

I still have a few Farthings I liked the impression of a Robin on the back.

I found this about farthing change.

The Draper's Farthing Change was originated by a small Linen draper in the Borough, who divined that an article ticketed "one and eleven pence three farthings" would be a more tempting bait for custom than another at two shillings, obviously because the farthing was knocked off. But his customers were not aware that he was by no means a loser by the transaction. At first he remitted the farthing per article or per yard only upon such goods as represented a large margin of profit, and the increased business was a clear gain to him. By-and-by, when the system became firmly established, he not only succeeded in having this supposed rebatement more than allowed for by the wholesale houses, but he had no compunction about actually marking up many a cheaper article to the popular "eleven three." Possibly the same thing is done now. The substitution of a packet of pins for the farthing change is the latter-day development of an exceedingly smart stroke of business.

Now the coinage has even dispensed with the Half New Penny.

The nearest discount now is 1p from a Pound, Cost 99p.

I wonder what they could give in place of a Penny?

You could always use their toilet instead of spending a penny.