On 15 February 1971, United Kingdom’s coinage evolved from the centuries-old system of pounds, shillings and pence and went decimal. This enormous change to UK coinage called for one of the biggest publicity campaigns our nation had ever seen. Decimalisation took many years of careful planning and in order to achieve the monumental challenge of striking new coins, a new factory was required, along with new machinery, production techniques and processes.
It was farewell to old pennies 
halfpennies 
farthings 
florins 
sixpences 
and dodecagonal threepenny bits 
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of ‘Decimal Day’, as it was known, the Royal Mint has just released a brand new 50p.
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