Pocket Piece

Triggersmob · July 12, 2014, 06:10:15 PM

Not sure if this has been covered before, but just wondering if any of you carry a pocket piece and if so, what coin is it? Pics would be nice.

I carry 2, one on my key ring and one in my wallet.

This is in the wallet...

and this is on my key ring...

Robster · July 12, 2014, 06:40:36 PM

Nice lucky penny.!!

nealeffendi · July 12, 2014, 07:30:38 PM

I always carry a 1988 $5 Parliament House. Big chunky EF coin that I got in a mixed lot (for less than face:yahoo:).
Carrying that around and I know that I'm never broke.

robbiegal · July 12, 2014, 09:59:39 PM

the old vagrant laws come into my mind
my mother always carried a coin in her purse for fear of ever being arrested!

Triggersmob · July 13, 2014, 09:55:42 AM

Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='54513' dateline='1405168179'the old vagrant laws come into my mind
my mother always carried a coin in her purse for fear of ever being arrested!

We were always told the same thing. Make sure you have some money on you or you could be arrested for vagrancy.

robbiegal · July 13, 2014, 12:59:14 PM

true
at least there is some benefit for being a coin collector

Steveqld · July 13, 2014, 03:28:15 PM

A bit of nostalgia.

The actual provision in Qld (now repealed) was:

having no visible lawful means of support or insufficient lawful
means, does not, on being charged before a court, give to its
satisfaction a good account of the person's means of support;

So a single coin wouldn't help much but as just about everyone either had a job or received welfare benefits the section was rarely (if ever) used. It also specifically excluded people looking for work.

Some of the other circumstances when you could be deemed a Vagrant:

occupier of a house frequented by reputed thieves

being an habitual drunkard, behaves in a riotous, disorderly, or
indecent manner in any public place

habitually consorts with reputed criminals or known prostitutes

has in the person's custody or possession any picklock key,
crow, jack, bit, or other implement of housebreaking

wilfully exposes his or her person

with intent to commit any indictable offence is found by night having the
person's face blackened or masked, or wearing felt or other slippers, or being dressed in
disguise or otherwise disguised, or having in the person's
possession any dark lantern, electric torch, or any matches of
the kind known as silent matches

beg or gather alms

pretends or professes to tell fortunes

The Qld Act was written in 1931 so reflects the values of another time and being in the middle of the great depression wouldn't have helped either.

Unicorn · July 13, 2014, 03:44:41 PM

That's a great piece Steve ...... one must not wear slippers eh!

nealeffendi · July 13, 2014, 03:46:44 PM

I was told as a child that having $2 was enough to avoid a charge of vagrancy (NSW, the law was repealed a few decades ago).
Now 2 dollars doesn't sound much, but when the law was written it was a gold sovereign and that was when an adult males wage was about 2 to 3 pounds/week (women and children far less) . So in today's money about $350.
Wearing a gold sovereign was enough to prove you were not a vagrant, might explain in part why so many were mounted.
A pair of half sovereign cuff links for men, or a sovereign broach or pendant for women makes for attractive jewellery and shows you were a lady/gentleman of means .

robbiegal · July 13, 2014, 04:04:13 PM

Packer's boy would fit this profile

"being an habitual drunkard, behaves in a riotous, disorderly, or
indecent manner in any public place"

and then there's me

"pretends or professes to tell fortunes"
I'd better hide my Tarot cards!! ha ha

Steveqld · July 13, 2014, 04:18:44 PM

Another circumstance was:

plays or bets at any unlawful game, or plays or bets in any street,
road, highway, or other public place at or with any table or
instrument of gaming at any game or pretended game;

That was the one that banned the Anzac Day game of Two Up hence why the local copper was always required to do the first toss so that if anyone got pinched then he was in there with them.

robbiegal · July 13, 2014, 06:15:43 PM

ha ha that is the true aussie spirit!

thank goodness we didn't have conscription - (sorry think i meant prohibition) all the coppers would have ended up having to take the first drink .... for the whole town!!

nealeffendi · July 13, 2014, 06:47:04 PM

Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='54594' dateline='1405241143'ha ha that is the true aussie spirit!

thank goodness we didn't have conscription - all the coppers would have ended up having to take the first drink .... for the whole town!!

There was conscription in WW2 and on to Vietnam.
Remember the Nashos, the protests and Simon Townsend doing time.
NZ also had conscription (even press gangs) in the Great War. At least we avoided that.

robbiegal · July 13, 2014, 07:30:59 PM

oh my goodness!!!
sorry I meant the other thing where the ban the grog prohibition?

yes, my father in law was a conscriptee in the Vietnam days

nealeffendi · July 13, 2014, 07:43:49 PM

Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='54602' dateline='1405245659'oh my goodness!!!
sorry I meant the other thing where the ban the grog prohibition?

yes, my father in law was a conscriptee in the Vietnam days

Doh!
I was wondering why men had to have a drink if they got conscripted.:idea:
Mind you we had the 6 o clock swill, men lining up 3 deep at the bars and to avoid losing their spot they peeed on the sawdust that liberally covered the floors.
Might explain why ladies couldn't enter the main bar.
Parts of my family tree were miners and publicans and other parts were tee totallers, must have made family get-togethers interesting.