Pre-1920 Silver Sixpence Coin Ordinary Circulation

0.925 Fine Silver Sixpence

Up until 1920, sixpences were struck in 0.925 sterling silver.

Lucky Sixpences

A bride should carry a sixpence in her shoe on her wedding day so as it's said to bring good luck to the couple. 

Another use of sixpences is to bake one into a Christmas pudding. It's thought to bring good luck to whoever finds it. 

Reverse Designs

There were 3 different reverse designs for these coins. Your coin will be chosen at random. The designs are; the rampant lion, value in wreath, and the shield with garter. 

The First Sixpence

The first sixpence was struck in the reign of Edward VI in 1551. His father, Henry VIII had debased the coinage thoroughly. Early in Edward's reign, it was planned to reform the coinage. In the last issue of his reign, coins with high silver content were issued, the sixpence being a new denomination. It may have been issued because some of the older base silver coins would have been trading at below their face value. The testoon, for example, may have been discounted to six pence, and it is likely that this was found to be a convenient denomination. It came to be popularly refered to as a 'Tanner' after the Romany Gypsy word 'tawno' meaning 'small thing'.

An Immediate Success

For whatever reason it was devised the sixpence proved to be popular, and it continued until decimalisation in 1971. The last sixpence minted for circulation was dated 1967, and a special proof version struck for inclusion in the farewell proof set of 1970. Indeed there was an energetic campaign during the late 1960's by a popular coin magazine, and also some of the major press to "save our sixpence". "S.O.S." car stickers were commonplace.

1887 "Withdrawn Type" Shield Sixpence

An interesting oversight was made in 1887 with the issue of the new coin types for Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. The half sovereign and the sixpence shared the same reverse design. It did not take long for some opportunists to realise that by gilding sixpences, they could easily be passed off as half sovereigns. This type with a quartered shield in garter was hastily withdrawn, and became known as the "withdrawn" type. A quick re-design took place, reverting to a design similar to the previous type, with the value "SIX PENCE" crowned within a wreath.

The Lion & The Crown

In 1911, the reverse type of the sixpence changed to a lion guardant on top of a crown. This design remained in use until 1926. A lion was probably the very first symbol to appear on any coin, apart from a mark of weight or value. This was about 640 B.C. on Greek coins issued in Lydia, now part of Turkey.

Obverse

The monarch and obverse design will vary.

Reverse

The reverse design will vary and be chosen at random. It will be one of the following:-

Wreath

The value in wreath appeared on sixpences up until 1911.

"SIX PENCE YEAR"

Shield

Only struck in 1887, this design was withdrawn due to it being the same as the half Sovereign. The coin shows a crowned shield with garter.

"HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE 1887"

Lion

The lion design was used on sixpences from 1911 - 1920. The design consists of a rampant lion on top of a crown with the inscription:

"FID DEF IND IMP YEAR SIXPENCE"

Specification