DECIMAL COINAG.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 10

DECIMAL COINAG.

Sir,—Many people greatly dosiro a decimal coinage. What objection is.there to effecting it simply thus .-—English money is now based on the sovereign. Base it on tho half sovereign. Re-name that a "standard." Onetenth is a shilling. The present penny is only a token, allowed to act as legal value for'more than it really possesses. Extend that legal fiction slightly, so as to mako it tender for a tenth of a shilling instead of a twelfth as now; call it. a ient., a threepence would bo 21 cents., a sixpence o cents., till all these small coins were replaced with new ones. A : sovereign would become a "double standard," and remain in circulation. Bank notes could remain in circulation, tho next issue being altered in denomination. Gold would be coined in 5 standard pieces of a handy'size, and called "Edwards," or "Imperials," or "Royala." Ledgers need not be

re-ruled, the shilling and penco columns would never have larger figures than nines in thorn. Thinking in quantities would not bo muddled. £1,000,000 would be two million "standards," which is a simple adjustment of thought. For a symbol to rcplaco £, it might be convenient to : take the Greek letter delta, an,vono can make and remember a simple triangle, and wo do not uso tlio symbol. Greeks uso it as a sign for ten Yours, etc., . • W.E.L. Auckland, March 12.. }d; equals half a cent. Florin equals 20 cents. Id. equals a cent 2/6 equals 1 Standard 3d. equals 2i cents. 5/- equals J Standard 3dl equals 5 cents. 10/- equals Standard Is. equals 10 cents. £1 equals double Standard