[SEL] OT: The British Pound

[Peter Scales]

In message <07ba01c4ba91$9d47f720$0301a8c0 at ALEC>, Alec Stevens 
<ajs at newenglandfinancial.biz> writes
>Isnt a British Pound sorta like a 32 ounce beer or something served in a big
>mug or stein???
>
>
>Alec J. Stevens
>Investment Specialist
>80 Leighton Road, Suite C
>Falmouth, ME 04105
>(800)842-6669
>(207)797-5169
>(207)797-2819

These days, a British Pound is a small brass coin measuring 22.65mm dia. 
(0.8917") and 3.3mm thick (0.13"), weighing approximately 8g (1/4 oz.) 
It always has a representation of the head of Queen Elizabeth the Second 
on the obverse but the reverse can have one of several designs.  These 
designs have included an oak tree to represent England, a thistle to 
represent Scotland and a dragon to represent Wales.  The edge of the 
coin is milled and carries an engraved inscription, which can also vary. 
The first "pound coin" issued in 1983 with the Royal Arms reverse had 
the inscription DECUS ET TUTAMEN which is Latin and means "An ornament 
and a safeguard".  The second "pound coin" issued in 1984 with the 
thistle reverse had the inscription NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT which is 
also Latin and loosely translates to "if you mess with me you'll get 
hurt" or "No one provokes me with impunity" (see
http://www.24carat.co.uk/nemomeimpunelacessit.html for some pictures and 
alternative translation :-))

A British pound will buy you 1 dollar 84 cents US or 2 dollars 46 cents 
Australian according to http://www.xe.com/ucc/ just now.  It will also 
buy you about a half pint of beer or four cigarettes in Britain.  If you 
earn 2,000 pounds a month before tax, you are earning the sort of money 
a college graduate might expect in his first job at age 21 or 22.  You 
will get to keep about three-quarters (or less) of that after taxes.

Hope this is helpful :-)

Regards

      Pete
-- 
Peter Scales