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English Six Pence 1551-1970

Latin or Foreign Legends on English coins

Silver content of 20th Century British Coins

In the United Kingdom they used to have obscure coins known as farthing, sixpence, shilling, florin and crown but on Feb 15th 1971 the Coins of England were decimalized. Formerly, there were 12 pence to a shilling and 20 shillings to a pound so 240 pence (240d) would equal a pound (1 �). A pound was originally worth a pound of silver. Pennies used to have the symbol (d) which came from denarius a common small silver Roman coin. A sixpence would be 6d. After decimalization there were 100 pence (100p) to a pound. The previous money remained legal tender with the shilling valued at five pence and the sixpence valued at two and a half pence. The sixpence remained popular because it was useful in feeding parking meters. However, inflation caused the sixpence to be demonetized at the end of June 1980.

The first sixpence was produced in 1551. It was common for people to trim the coins because they were so soft due to a high silver content. However, the amount of silver was eventually changed to 92.50% (sterling) silver and since 1662 they have been milled. This resulted in them becoming harder to trim and they also did not wear out as fast. The milled edge is the outcome of being struck by a die rather than a mechanical coin press. It is interesting to note that during the American Revolution the Spanish Dollar (Piece of Eight) was worth about sixpence. A private in the British Army of this era was paid a subsistence of six pence per day. In 1920 the sixpence were debased to 50% fine silver. The sixpence actually was made in both alloys that year so there are two versions of the coin. In 1947 they were changed to copper nickel. Silver coins stopped being minted in the U.K. almost twenty years before the same transformation in the U.S.A. because the U.K. had to repay the bullion it borrowed from the United States during World War II. The 1952 George VI is the key date of the later sixpences because of its low mintage. It can be compared to the key date 1950-D U.S. Jefferson Nickel but the 1952 sixpence is actually twice as rare. In 1952, sixpence were only minted to be used in the West Indies because of a shortage of nickel during the Korean War. The last sixpences minted for circulation were in 1967. The reverse on the last design bears a floral motif which includes a rose, a thistle, a leek and a shamrock. These represent England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland respectfully. In 1970 the final sixpence was issued in a proof set. The slang term for a sixpence is a tanner. Sixpences were also used in other members of the Commonwealth such as Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand.

English Sixpence Elizabeth II 1953-1970

R. Interlaced rose, thistle, shamrock and leek.