For anyone confused about pre-decimal English currency (http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/units/money.htm)
4 farthings = 1 penny
48 farthings = 1 shilling
960 farthings = £1
There were farthings, half-pennies, pennies, threepences, sixpences, shillings, florins, and half-crowns.
I guess we're lucky in only having to fiddle around with dates in awkward formats.
> I guess we're lucky in only having to fiddle around with dates in awkward formats.
And that thing that isn't the metric system.
To be fair, traditionally there weren't a lot of events where you needed to figure out the number of farthings in a pound. I also read somewhere that loans were generally set at 5% (one shilling interest per pound loaned) because working out any other number was a pain in the neck. No idea of the date or veracity of that little nugget though.
I always thought the guinea was particularly funny, given that it doesn't really add much in the way of demarcation.
“B4.2 Base 12 Numeric Digits. For those applications requiring use of the sterling monetary system or duodecimal arithmetic, the digits 10 and 11 can replace the two graphics immediately following the digit 9.”
[1] http://www.wps.com/projects/codes/X3.4-1963/index.html