This just in from the son of the original owner - a complete ref 2577 with a 354 movement, purchased in 1955 in Cape Town. Came with the watch, Guarantee of origin booklet and receipt. Seller mentioned the watch was always worn on a non-Omega metal bracelet. I took it off for now. As soon as I am done servicing the watch I will post better pictures.
The invoice doesn't appear to add up. Looks like the store overcharged the buyer by 80 pence. Shocking
Fun fact: that would have been the South African Pound rather than GBP and would have been worth more than Sterling (they were still on the Gold standard) ... and the 10 would be shillings.
Great purchase. Just out of interest, in 1955 the average UK wage was £9 5/-, ie £9.25. The same figure today is £505, ie 54.65 times what it was then, which puts the relative cost of this watch at a fraction under £1340. That's $1740 to you folks across the Atlantic.
Yes - One pound is 20 shillings and 1 shilling is 12 pennies. A guinea was one pound and one shilling.
I can't even begin to comprehend what counting system that was based on to begin with. And what about farthings?
It dates back to the Romans. I'm no numisma ... mnumisma .... coin expert but a farthing was a quarter of a penny (fourthling?) but never mention thrup'ny bits to a lady.