In come the dollars.

In come the cents.

To replace the pounds and the shillings and the pence.

Be prepared folks when the coins begin to mix

on the 14th of February 1966.

Who are you?

I'm dollar bill and I've come to tell everyone

that decimal currency will be here from the 14th of February 1966.

What is decimal currency?

Decimal currency is simply a money system worked out in multiples of 10.

The base unit is a dollar which is made up of 100 cents.

But why we changing?

What's wrong with the old pounds, shillings and pence?

I'll show you.

Let's do a sum in pounds, shillings and pence.

First, 2 ha'pennies make a penny.

Carry the penny

5 and 7 and 1 make 13 pence.

12 pence make a shilling,

that leaves one penny.

Carry the 12. That's one shilling.

3 and 7 and 1 are 11.

Carry 1.

3 ones are 3.

That's 31 shillings.

20 shillings make 1 pound.

20 from 31 leaves 11.

Carry the 20.

I mean, 1 pound.

7 and 5 are 12, and 1 is 13

Carry the 1.

3 ones are 3.

33 pounds, 11 shillings and 1penny.

Whew!

Now let's do the same sum in dollars and cents.

5 and 6 are 11. Carry 1.

3 and 7 and 1 are 11.

Carry 1 over the decimal point.

No need to convert the cent into dollars.

5 and 1 are 6, and 1 is 7.

2 threes are 6.

67 dollars, 11 cents.

Now wasn't that much easier?

95% of the world's population

live in countries using decimal currency.

Australia's one of the last countries

to change to decimal currency.

New Zealand will change in 1967.

Mistakes are easily made

in pounds, shillings and pence.

Bosses get angry

and time and money are wasted.

Housewives will find decimal currency simpler.

Typists and clerks will find it easier.

Time and money will be saved

and bosses will be happier.

How much will these new coins be worth

in pounds, shillings and pence?

Blow me a note and I'll show you.

10 shillings equals 1 dollar.

5 shillings equals 50 cents.

2 shillings equals 20 cents

1 shillings equals 10 cents

and 6 pence equals 5 cents.

What will these new coins look like?

This is the 5 cent coin with the spiny anteater.

It's the same size as the 6 pence.

And the same value too.

And this is the 10 cent coin with Lyrebird.

It's the same size and value as the shilling piece.

This is the 20 cent coin

showing the platypus. It's the same size and value as......

The two shilling piece?

Yes!

And this is the largest coin, the 50 cent

with the kangaroo, emu and crest. It's worth 5 shillings.

In come the dollars and in come the cents,

to replace the pounds and the shillings and pence,

be prepared folks when the coins begin to mix,

on the 14th of February 1966.

Clink go the cents folks, clink, clink, clink,

changeover day is closer than you think.

Learn the value of the coins and the way that they appear,

and things will be much smoother when the decimal point is here.

In come the dollars and in come the cents,

to replace the pounds and the shillings and the pence,

be prepared folks when the coins begin to mix,

on the 14th of February 1966.