Hello Global Community!

After a 50 year hiatus I'm back to collecting stamps. I got a collection of new Austria from a relative, which spurred me on to do something useful with it, so I joined a club and found great joy in the activity. Hopefully I will be able to contribute something useful here as well.
My plan is to flit around like a butterfly somewhat randomly, figuring out what to get involved with next. For now it will be older European regular issues (easy to obtain cheaply, yet allowing for some surprises when you look closely).

Here are two quick questions which have been bugging me lately ...

How did people pay 1/2 cent of postage due in the old days?

Which country has the longest running regular series? Could it be Norway?

Butterfly I just saw your opera last weekend ! Welcome..someone here will have the answer to your questions..Denmark certainly has a long running series with the numeral and wavy lines...but like I say someone here will know !

Welcome Butterfly.

Great to have you with us at SCF.
Stick around, it's fun and informative.

I cannot answer your first question but you are right, the Norwegian Posthorns are the longest running definitive series.
They were first issued in the early 1870's and are being used today with different values [of course]

Londonbus1

Hello butterfly, welcome, glad you are here!

In the old days there were denominations of currency that were smaller than a penny. A penny was a big amount then. (A silver penny in the 1700's.)

Welcome Butterfly, glad to have you found your way back!

Welcome butterfly

I'm no monetary expert but I believe that in Britain there was 1/2 penny's and even 1/4d in there currancy back then. I'm not certain about other countries but the same thing could be possible for them..

Great questions by the way. Keep em comming that's how we learn here.

Dianne

Welcome bradscott. And when we talk about the classic period and fractional amounts we can't forget about "bisects" where stamps were cut in 1/2's to make the odd amount. These are quite desirable on cover (envelope).

Welcome back to collecting! The USA also had some fractional currency for a brief time.

welcome butterfly. I am sure you are going to flit right in!

Welcome Butterfly! Great to see you back collecting. As far as your questions, I don't have an answer to either but look forward to seeing what our knowledgeable members provide. Regards Mike