12 SEPTEMBER 1968, Page 27

If we had 'the dibs'

Sir: 'Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves'; but what of the new pence?

The new pennies have yet to acquire a com- mon name and must remain somewhat unreal to many of us until they do so. When there were silver bobs and tanners and threepenny dodgers, not to speak of the golden quids which some of us remember, life was easier if one 'had the dibs.' With five DIBS to the non the deoimal coinage might begin to .seem real—and then the proverb might read: 'Take care of the

dibs and the quids will take care of themselves.'

T. W. Froggatt 79 Higher Drive, Purley, Surrey