Sixpence Coin
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe.
What is a sixpence?
The History of the Silver Sixpence. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe. What is a sixpence? A sixpence was a coin used in the British Empire beginning in 1551. One sixpence represented six pennies. The last year of use of the sixpence coin was 1967. How did the sixpence tradition begin? What is an Australian sixpence coin worth? Values, images, and specifications for Australian six pence coins from. The sixpence (six pence, designation - 6d) is a British coin. It was worth 1/40 of a pound sterling and minted from 1551. Sixpences continued used after decimal reform 1971 with a value of 2.5 new pence until 1980.
A sixpence was a coin used in the British Empire beginning in 1551. One sixpence represented six pennies. The last year of use of the sixpence coin was 1967.
Sixpence Coin Value
How did the sixpence tradition begin?
In the middle ages, the people were very superstitious. They believed that much of their life was controlled by evil spirits. Anything they could do to ward off those spirits was wise. They felt that those evil spirits were particularly active during rites of passage, such as weddings, so it was important to use good luck charms to keep the bride and groom safe on their wedding day. Any type of talisman from a horseshoe to a lucky coin was considered a good omen.
Sixpence Coins Ebay
During the early 1600's it was customary for the Lord of the Manor to give his bride a piece of silver as a wedding gift. This was symbolically represented by a sixpence coin. It later became a tradition to include a sixpence in the dowry that was given by the bride's family to the groom. That tradition of the sixpence as a symbol of good luck continues today.
Some families have passed down the same sixpence through the generations to continue the hope for good luck to future brides. It's also nice to seek out a sixpence minted in the year of your parents or grandparents wedding, birth years, or some other important family occasion.
Why is there a 'thistle' on the back of many sixpence coins?
The thistle is the national flower of Scotland. According to legend in the 1200's the Danes from northern Europe attempted to invade Scotland. Hiding under the cover of darkness their raid upon sleeping defenders was stopped when a barefoot raider stepped on a thistle and howled out in pain, alerting the defenders who drove the Danes away. The thistle started appearing on Scottish coins in 1470. The back of the last sixpence features a garland of roses, thistle, shamrock (three leaf clover), and leek. The words 'Fid Def' are also on the back of the sixpence. This is Latin for fidei desfensor, or defender of the faith.
Sixpence Coin Holder
Please note: We have mainly written about England, as that is the country within the UK where our students live. We would be very happy for schools and visitors to send us information we can add to our website on Wales and Scotland. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, the pound was divided into twenty shillings or 240 pennies. It remained so until decimalization on 15 February 1971, when the pound was divided up as it is still done today. Before 1971 money was divided into:
Before decimalization on 15 February 1971, there were twenty (20) shillings per pound. The shilling was subdivided into twelve (12) pennies. The penny was further sub-divided into two halfpennies or four farthings (quarter pennies). 2 farthings = 1 halfpenny
Symbols The symbols 's' for shilling and 'd' for pence derive from the Latin solidus and denarius used in the Middle Ages. The '£' sign developed from the 'l' for libra.
One pound A £1 coin was called a Sovereign and was made of gold. A paper pound often was called a quid. More than a pound (£) 1 guinea and a £5.0.0 note 1 guinea = £1-1s-0d ( £1/1/- ) = one pound and one shilling = 21 shillings or 21/- (which is £1.05 in todays money) 1 guinea could be written as '1g' or '1gn'. A guinea was considered a more gentlemanly amount than £1. You paid tradesmen, such as a carpenter, in pounds but gentlemen, such as an artist, in guineas. A third of a guinea equalled exactly seven shillings. Why guinea? Because the Guinea coast was fabled for its gold, and its name became attached to other things like guinea fowl, and New Guinea.
Less than a pound (£) Shilling and pennies 'Bob' is slang for shilling (which is 5p in todays money) 1 shilling equalled twelve pence (12d). £1 (one pound) equalled 20shillings (20s or 20/-) 240 pennies ( 240d ) = £1 There were 240 pennies to a pound because originally 240 silver penny coins weighed 1 pound (1lb). A sum of £3 12s 6d was normally written as £3-12-6, but a sum of 12s 6d was normally recorded as 12/6. Amounts less than a pound were also written as: 12/6 meaning 12s-6d 10/- meaning ten shillings. An amount such as 12/6 would be pronounced 'twelve and six' as a more casual form of 'twelve shillings and sixpence'. More than a Shilling (s. or /- )Coins of more than one shilling ( 1/- ) but less than £1 in value were:
Less than a Shilling (s. or /- )
The word threepence would often be pronounced as though there was only a single middle 'e', therefore 'thre-pence'. The slang name for the coin was Joey. Penny coins were referred to as 'coppers'
Less than a penny(d)Pennies were broken down into other coins:
Farthing Half Penny Other names for coinsA shilling was often called a 'bob'. Five shilling piece or crown was sometimes called a dollar sixpence (silver) - often called a 'tanner' A penny was often called a 'copper' after the metal it was minted from. Old money conversions to money used today
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© Copyright Mandy Barrow 2013
Sixpence Coin Wedding
Mandy is the creator of the Woodlands Resources section of the Woodlands Junior website.
The two websites projectbritain.com and primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk are the new homes for the Woodlands Resources.
Mandy left Woodlands in 2003 to work in Kent schools as an ICT Consulatant.
She now teaches computers at The Granville School and St. John's Primary School in Sevenoaks Kent.