25 OCTOBER 1968, Page 9

A hundred years ago From the 'Spectator, 24 October 1868—The

Com- mission on International Coinage has presented its report, which amounts in brief to this: things must be let alone. An international coinage is impossible, unless we alter our pound, or the world accepts that as the unit. We cannot alter it without endangering credit, and the world shows no disposition to accept it. Consequently, the matter must drop. We wish the agitators of this question would condescend to smaller things, secure us a silver piece worth 2 2/5d., and so make our coinage decimal in farthings, groats. florins, and pounds. If we had them, and the Mint would issue gold five-shilling pieces, we should have as convenient a coinage as we are likely to get yet awhile.