>Oh, "packed decimals" is the name, right? I suppose that it is technically the same, or similar, to BCD (binary coded decimals). The name "packed applies - I think - because two digits are "packed" into each byte.
>

There is some mis-information about BCD & packed decimals. I don't know about mini/mainframe architecture. But in PC, the name is "Binary Coded Decimals" or BCD. There are two types of it, "unpacked BCD" & "packed BCD".

Unpacked BCD only consist of one digit per-byte. The lo-byte is for the digit (unsigned), the hi-byte is for other purposes.
Packed BCD is two digit per byte, one for each nibble (the lo-byte and the hi-byte). The leftmost digit is for sign.

Btw, CONGRATULATIONS for you! :-))))
Regards