For folks in the pre-1970s UK, it was a way of life. Imagine the sheer numbers of differnt coins the US Mint would have to produce if we used the same system that the Brits had. Who would be on the US Florin? The US Groat?
Heh, groats from back when they went by four-pence increments to divide a shilling in thirds rather than three-pence and six-pence increments to divide it into quarters.
Prior to decimalization, the British penny had the same diameter as the US half-dollar coin. Remember the Beatles song “Taxman” and that line “Now my advice to those who die / Declare the pennies on your eyes”?