What could you buy with old money coins?
Coins from Britain's old money system had much more buying power than their decimal equivalents today. I thought it might be fun to see how far they would go in a sweet shop from 1970, the year before decimalisation.
There wasn't much you could get for a halfpenny. Today it would be worth just 0.2p, but back then it had the spending power of 3p today.
One penny
One penny would be worth 6p in today's money. Back in 1970 you could buy:
- Four Barratt's Aniseed Balls
- Swizzels Fruit Fizzers
- Swizzels Parma Violets
- Van Melle Fruitella Stick
Threepence
A threepence would be 16p in today's money.
A shiny brass threepence would get you:
- Barratt's French Nougat
- Barratt's Sherbert Fountain or Dabs
- Barratt's Trains or Wise Cracks Sweet Cigarettes
- Maxmint Chewing Gum
- Swizzels Love Hearts
- Swizzels Double Lollies
Sixpence
The decimal equivalent of a sixpence was 2½p, but a 1970's sixpence in today's money would be 33p. It would get you:
- Cadbury's Dipped Flake
- Fry's Super Mousse
- Mackintosh Caramac Mint Fudge Bar
- Mackintosh Tootie Frooties or Tootie Minties
- Sprangles Soft Centres or Ice Mint Soft Centres
- Opal Fruits
- Terry's Blackcurrant Pastilles (tube)
One shilling
A shilling back then was the direct equivalent of 5p. But in 1970 it was worth 65p in today's money. In 1970 a shilling would buy:
- Barker and Dobson Party Buttons
- Bassett's Dolly Mixtures, Jelly Beans, Liquorice Comfits, Fruit Pastilles, Lico Logs - ¼lb
- Cadbury's Fruit'n'Nut, Wholenut, Bar Six
- Fry's Tiffin
- Mackintosh Minty Cup
- Mackintosh Hazel Cup
- Makcintosh Whole Nut
- Galaxy Hazelnut or Fruit and Almond
- Malteasers (bag)
- Meltis Turkish Delight, Fruit Pastilles - ¼lb
- Needlers Milk Chocolate Block
- Nestle's Milky Way
- Paynes Toffets, Choc Raisins, Choc Peanuts
- Rowntree's Aero
- Rowntree's Smarties, Polo Mints, Fruit Gums (multipacks)
- Rowntree's Jellytots
- Van Howten Assorted Fruit Jellies - ¼lb
Two shillings
Two shillings was exactly 10p in decimal. The buying power of a 1970's two shilling piece was £1.30 today. In 1970 you could buy:
- Barker and Dobson Orange and Lemon Slices
- Barker and Dobson Choc Mint Crisp, Choc Nut Brittle Crisp, Choc Butterscotch Crisp
- Cadbury's Dairy Milk Bar
- Cadbury's Golden Crisp
- Clarnico Rum Truffles - ¼lb
- Fry's White Heather - ¼lb
- Mackintosh Quality Street - handy pack
- Mars pack of five
- Marathon pack of four
- Summit pack of three
- Ripple pack of four
Half a crown
Half a crown was two shillings and sixpence. The decimal value was 12½p. In today's money half a crown was more like £1.63. In 1970 you could get the following for half a crown:
- Barker and Dobson Buttered Brazils 3½oz
- Cadbury's Roses
- Cadbury's Dairy Milk Minatures (bag or carton)
- Cadbury's Eclairs, Homestyle Fudge, Assorted Cremes, Truffle Cremes, Nut Whirls or Choc Caramels
- Callard and Bowser Dessert Nougar ¼lb
- Chocolate Tobler - Port Choc
- Chocolate Tobler - Nimrod or Narcisse
- Toblerone
- Frys Buttered Brazils (bag)
- Mackintosh Noisette paté
- Paynes Milk Choc Nut 100 grams
Source: Shaws Standard Guide to Fair Prices, November 1970
By Steven Braggs, February 2023
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