The 1950 film "Trio" is a British film based on three stories by British author W. Somerset Maugham, "The Verger", "Mr. Know-All", and "The Sanatorium." The story "The Verger" is set in England during the 1920's and 1930's and has British coins of the pound-shilling-pence system which was retired in 1971. A British pound (£) was valued between US $4.00 and US $5.00 during the period. A pound was worth 20 shillings (abbreviation '/') and a shilling was worth 12 pennies (abbreviation 'd'). Albert Foreman is an Anglican (Church of England) church Verger, a church worker who assists the vicar or minister and is in charge of the church buildings and furnishings. In 1924 he has worked for St. Peter's Church for 17 years but church officials have discovered that he can not read or write and when he refuses to learn he is fired. Albert marries his landlady Emma and the pair open a small store. After several years they own several stores and have become wealthy. When the couple open their first store, the first customer, a small boy, spends a (British) penny. The couple save the penny and attach it to a desk. There is a scene showing a cash register which has British denomination numbers. There are several scenes of copper and silver British coins of the pound-shilling-pence system in the cash register and on a table. An Irish coin also appears. The coins appear to be real coins of the period and not prop coins.

Albert Foreman is a verger at St. Peter's Church (Church of England) in a British city. The church has a new vicar and Albert is called to a meeting with the vicar and two church officials.

The verger Albert Foreman then appears.

The vicar tells Albert that they have discovered that he can not read or write and that he must learn. Albert replies that he is too old to learn and is fired. Albert lives in a rented room and his landlady Emma Brown is a widow with a grown daughter. Albert and Emma take a walk around town.

Albert notices that he has a hard time finding a place to buy cigarettes and decides to open a shop. Albert impulsively proposes marriage to Emma and she becomes Mrs. Foreman. The pair then open a small tobacco, newspaper, and candy shop.

The couple are waiting for their first customer.

A small boy walks in, buys some candy, and pays with a large British penny.

A British Penny of of the period:

Bronze, 31 mm, 9.45 gm
Obverse: King George V with titles
Reverse: Seated figure of Britannia right with trident in left hand

Albert holds the penny and shows it to Emma.

The couple decide to save it as their first penny earned.

He uses a hammer to nail it to a table. The store begins to make money, as shown by a British cash register.

The cash register has keys for various British pound-shilling-pence amounts. The letter 'D' was an abbreviation for penny and a '/' was a shilling. The keys include "11D", "9D" to "1D" then "1/2D" and below are "1/" "10D" down to "2D" then "3/4D" and "1/4D" (a farthing or 1/4 penny) Several British copper coins appear in the cash register tray:

The coins are British copper pennies and halfpennies (with the ship on it). A later scene shows Emma appearing over the tray:

The tray now includes an Irish penny (with the hen on it).

A Irish Penny of of the period:

Bronze, 31 mm, 9.45 gm
Obverse: Hen with chicks
Reverse: Harp

Later more valuable coin money comes into the shop which has to be packaged for deposit at the bank.

The coins shown here are British silver coins, threepences, sixpences, shillings, florins, and half crowns. Also shown are bank deposit money bags marked "£5 SILVER." The Foremans then have their original penny made into a brooch for Emma.

The penny in the brooch is dated 1921. Albert and Emma now own several stores, one managed by Emma's daughter and her husband. Emma's daughter has a baby who is christened at Albert's old church.

Albert and the vicar talk and Albert offers some money for the church.

Albert pulls out several 100 pound notes which surprises the vicar. A scene shows the money flowing in.

Albert heads to the local bank with the deposit bags and currency.

The bank manager asks Albert to step into his office. He tries to sell Albert some investments and Albert informs him that as he can not read, he would not be able to understand the investment paperwork. The manager expresses amazement that as Albert has been so successful in business and asks him what greater success he could have achieved if he could read. Albert replies:

James Hayter as Albert Foreman
Kathleen Harrison as Emma Foreman
Michael Hordern as the church vicar
Felix Aylmer as the bank manager
Director: Ken Annakin
Writers: W. Somerset Maugham, Noel Langley, R. C. Sherriff, based on stories by W. Somerset Maugham