sixpence

Everyday

1. A sixpence was a small British coin worth six old pennies, used until Britain changed to decimal money and kept for a while after. tree →
2. (old-fashioned) Sixpence is the amount of six old pennies. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons it is part of old British money: 12 pennies made a shilling and 20 shillings a pound, so sixpence was half a shilling. In nursery rhymes and stories: «Sing a song of sixpence». At Christmas some families still hide a silver sixpence in the pudding for luck, and brides put one in a shoe. Phrases: a silver sixpence, turn on a sixpence (turn very quickly in a small space).

Examples

• «Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye.» tree →
• Grandma found a sixpence in her Christmas pudding. tree →
• When Grandad was a boy, a comic cost sixpence. tree →
• Sixpence was worth half a shilling. tree →
• The bride had a sixpence in her shoe for good luck. tree →
• That little car can turn on a sixpence. tree →
• The old sixpence was also called a «tanner». tree →
• "You might give me sixpence, Daddy," said Effie, "because I did bring you the new specimen. tree →

Note

Plural sixpences. Old money was written 6d (d for pennies). In maths: 2 sixpences = 1 shilling; 40 sixpences = 1 pound. Do not mix with modern pence: 1 old sixpence is not 6p today (it became 2½ new pence).