Looking Back - The Other Side of the Coin

On recent visits to Britain I've found myself critical of the coinage. Basically it's a mess. There's no sense of order or logic to the size, shape and colour of coins there; at least, none that I can see.

This year, however, I found myself rather enjoying the mess, finding it a refreshing change from the predictable neatness of, say, the coins here, or those in use with the Euro. The sheer bloody-mindedness of British coins points to something deeply comforting (and disturbing) in the national character. Now, if only they'd bring back the old threepenny bit and tanner...