My other arf and everyone around the same age as us are trying to send me nuts. They laughed when I asked the question.

"Ya nutter, was never such thing. 2 1/2p coin? Ya mad"

I remember it back in the 70s and have read 1 post on this forum where it mentions it so I know it existed.

Anyone else?

Would be good to see a pic if anyone could direct me to one.

That was a sixpence in old money. maybe a tad bigger than the current 5p's and silver in colour.

Yep- sixpences didn't go out for a number of years after decimal currency was introduced.

Thanks for that. I only ever knew it as the 2 1/2p (Born in '68)

The white coats won't be coming after me afterall :)

It was a tanner an old sixpence,it was never done in new money it was 2p & 1/2p.

I used to get sixpences to go for sweeties in the 70's

I remember the coin - our local shop used to sell mojo's, black jacks and fruit salads for 2 for a penny!!

If I went in with this coin the old lady would only let me buy 5 sweets but if her hubby was serving he would let me have 6!!!

:D

Nice little story...

We used to find loads of these on the pavement along with other copper coins when I was a kid. Then one day my Dad told me a old man who lived alone a few doors away visited the pub every evening would always drop his loose change on the pavement on purpose as he walked home, he would do this specifically for the children to find the next day!!

Anyone know what year they went out of circulation?

I'd guess about '75

Was amazed no-one of my age (39) remembered them.

I'm 37 and I remember them- I guess it depends on whether your family allowed you to handle any money when you were a child.

I'm 37 and I remember them- I guess it depends on whether your family allowed you to handle any money when you were a child.

Good point that medusa. Mi mom would throw me one just to get me from under her feet. Was quite a regular occurence :hihi:

Maybe that's why me and my sister were so fortunate in finding them on the pavement...maybe all the other kids on the street didn't recognise the coins as real money!! :hihi::D

I remember the coin - our local shop used to sell mojo's, black jacks and fruit salads for 2 for a penny!!

If I went in with this coin the old lady would only let me buy 5 sweets but if her hubby was serving he would let me have 6!!!

:D

Nice little story...

We used to find loads of these on the pavement along with other copper coins when I was a kid. Then one day my Dad told me a old man who lived alone a few doors away visited the pub every evening would always drop his loose change on the pavement on purpose as he walked home, he would do this specifically for the children to find the next day!!


Nice story indeed Shiesh. Were you an early bird then? :hihi:

Ive still got a couple of sixpences and some silver 3d bits as well. I've sent at least 3 to Japan for various brides to wear in their shoes when they marry a Brit.:hihi:..including my son:roll:

Nice story indeed Shiesh. Were you an early bird then? :hihi:

I would have been if I'd known what he was doing every evening!! :hihi:

:mad:

My Dad didn't tell me until after the old guy died and I was all grown up!!

:rolleyes:

It was a tanner an old sixpence,it was never done in new money it was 2p & 1/2p.

Sing along guys,

'Rule Britannia, two tanners make a bob.......'

My other arf and everyone around the same age as us are trying to send me nuts. They laughed when I asked the question.

"Ya nutter, was never such thing. 2 1/2p coin? Ya mad"

I remember it back in the 70s and have read 1 post on this forum where it mentions it so I know it existed.

Anyone else?

Would be good to see a pic if anyone could direct me to one.

Here's a pic of the old tanner:




http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/six2.html#qe

Scroll up to see older versions.

The tanner was a very popular coin. It was small and light, and would buy you an ice cream or a bar of chocolate. In the 1960s there were more sixpences in circulation than any other coin except the penny. The sixpence was so popular that after the last ones were minted (they were dated 1967) there was a "save our sixpence" press campaign, with people sticking SOS stickers on their cars, but it was to no avail as 2½p was an odd value for a coin. But there may have been a "stay of execution" - according to this website the tanner was due to disappear 18 months after decimalisation, but was allowed to remain in circulation until 1980: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010215/ai_n14371469 I would be surprised if this were true, but I'm sure we were spending tanners into the mid-1970s.

Diameter was three quarters of an inch. The coins were used by footballers to check their studs were the correct height from the sole.

Here's a pic of the old tanner:




http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/six2.html#qe

Scroll up to see older versions.

Cheers Miller. The 1964 one is the one

The tanner was a very popular coin. It was small and light, and would buy you an ice cream or a bar of chocolate. In the 1960s there were more sixpences in circulation than any other coin except the penny. The sixpence was so popular that after the last ones were minted (they were dated 1967) there was a "save our sixpence" press campaign, with people sticking SOS stickers on their cars, but it was to no avail as 2½p was an odd value for a coin. But there may have been a "stay of execution" - according to this website the tanner was due to disappear 18 months after decimalisation, but was allowed to remain in circulation until 1980: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010215/ai_n14371469 I would be surprised if this were true, but I'm sure we were spending tanners into the mid-1970s.

Way back when, when I was a lass, I used to take a tanner a week to school for my milk and biscuits! One of those dinky 1/3 pint bottles of milk and those massive shortbread chocolate-coated Dundee biscuits. mmmm

Ive still got a couple of sixpences and some silver 3d bits as well. I've sent at least 3 to Japan for various brides to wear in their shoes when they marry a Brit.:hihi:..including my son:roll:

yes me to ,still got a few old coins left pre 40s both type 3 bit tanners ,bobs &2 bob ,i made a silver chain with 20-30 silver 3d bits for my wife but she gave it to my sister,nice thought but Hmmm

Born in '67 and the tooth fairy always left us a sixpence, my children get £1 now...that's inflation for you!!

Way back when, when I was a lass, I used to take a tanner a week to school for my milk and biscuits! One of those dinky 1/3 pint bottles of milk and those massive shortbread chocolate-coated Dundee biscuits. mmmm
Surely school milk was free prior to decimalisation. Were you spending the whole tanner on biscuits?

Surely school milk was free prior to decimalisation. Were you spending the whole tanner on biscuits?

I'm talking 1972/3, I can't remember exactly the year Maggie Thatcher, the milk-snatcher stole the milk from schoolchildren, but I'd take a tanner a week (IIRC) to school, and that covered the cost of the snack of the milk and the biscuit.

PS just googled it, and it was apparently 1971 that the viscious old (*insert anglo-saxon phrase of choice here*) stole the milk from the mouths of the kiddies.

Anyone know what year they went out of circulation?

I'd guess about '75

Was amazed no-one of my age (39) remembered them.

I think they ceased to be legal tender (or demonetised!) in 1980. I was born in 1974 and don't remember them being in circulation.

I miss having the old shillings and florins in my pockets before the changed the sizes of the 5p and 10p. I once had one from the 20s or 30s when I was a kid and that blew my mind!!

are sixpences worth anything nowadays as i have an old john player special tin full of them, there must be about 300

are sixpences worth anything nowadays as i have an old john player special tin full of them, there must be about 300

I believe some of the older ones, pre-1920 or 1926 ?, have quite a high silver content and may be worth something for the metal. As coins unless they're in fine or better condition probably not worth much at all....try checking EBay.

I once had one from the 20s or 30s when I was a kid and that blew my mind!!

In the 40s we often came across pennies with Victoria's head and dates in the 1890s. I used to hoard them....until I was skint :hihi:

I remember getting a sixpence in my xmas pudding when I was at school and what about the tradition of the bride having one in her shoe.



"Most people know the famous Victorian dressing rhyme, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" but many do not know about the last line "And a silver sixpence in her shoe". We at The Silver Sixpence Company are dedicated to making this part of the wedding tradition into something really special and to give the bride a truly unique gift that she can remember her special day by.

Given that the last sixpence was minted in 1967 and the last 100% silver sixpence was minted in 1921, it is unlikely that any of today's brides have ever seen a sixpence and have no idea about the rich history that it has. The first sixpence was minted in 1551, so we have over 450 years worth of history to choose from. It is my job to find the perfect sixpence for your perfect day. There are a number of ways I can find a sixpence special for you, either a name or a date or event. If we don't have one in stock, I'll find the one you want."

"Most people know the famous Victorian dressing rhyme, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" but many do not know about the last line "And a silver sixpence in her shoe". We at The Silver Sixpence Company are dedicated to making this part of the wedding tradition into something really special and to give the bride a truly unique gift that she can remember her special day by.



Like I said in post 13, I gave one to my Japanese daughter in law when she married my son, and have sent a couple more on when he has had friends marry out there too......so I have done a little bit keeping the tradition going.
I have a 1959 one and a 1964 left now, oh... and I have a watch with a 1949 sixpence as its dial.

Like I said in post 13, I gave one to my Japanese daughter in law when she married my son, and have sent a couple more on when he has had friends marry out there too......so I have done a little bit keeping the tradition going.
I have a 1959 one and a 1964 left now, oh... and I have a watch with a 1949 sixpence as its dial.

I had a sixpence in my shoe when I married, too.

There was a song that went " I've got sixpence, jolly, jolly sixpence, to last me all my life. I've tupence to spend, tupence to lend and tupence to send home to my wife "

Sing along guys,

'Rule Britannia, two tanners make a bob.......'

Haven't heard that in over 40 years..........

I had a sixpence in my shoe when I married, too.

I had a big boil on the back of my neck and a headache :hihi:

show us yer tuppence

show us yer tuppence
or your threepennies.

Anyone remember the following expression, usually used to describe someone who looked like they were down in the dumps;
"looks like you've lost a bob and found a tanner".
Or is it just Yorkshire thing?

I had a big boil on the back of my neck and a headache :hihi:

the wedding cake gave me a headache, greybeard! ( ;) ) :heyhey: :hihi: :hihi:

Sing along guys,

'Rule Britannia, two tanners make a bob.......'
Three make 18 pence and 4 make 2 bob

hazel

I have a one armed bandit that runs on them. Fortunately when I stripped it down I found about £20 woth of them inside.

My old favourite was the brass 12 sided threepenny bit. I used to always drop them into a huge Long John Whisky bottle when I got them. They jammed so tight (because of corners I pressume) I couldn't get them back out. Still got them.

They went out of circulation when slot machines came along. Won't roll you see.

My old favourite was the brass 12 sided threepenny bit ... They went out of circulation when slot machines came along. Won't roll you see.

They won't roll, but lots of machines accepted them, and for a while in the mid- to late 1960s they could be used in phone boxes.

Remember Derrick Guyler in the advert for Revels chocolates

"Nay Lad You can't buy a box of chocolates for sixpence but you can buy Revels"

are sixpences worth anything nowadays as i have an old john player special tin full of them, there must be about 300

Find out what they are worth and I will buy them from you. I have an old prewar one armed bandit that takes the things. I can always make use of a few.

I don't need rare dates or anything like that. Up to 1922 I think they were silver.

Find out what they are worth and I will buy them from you.
Most post-war sixpences are not worth much; certain ones in very good condition can be worth more. This eBay lot comprises 80+ KGVI and QEII sixpences; its final price may be a useful guide: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lot-of-80-SIXPENCES-ELIZABETH-II-GEORGE-VI_W0QQitemZ280213314678QQihZ018QQcategoryZ3399QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ..Or just look around on eBay under "Coins > Collections/Bulk lots".

hi I remember the old sixpence, my grandad had a holder in his car to save them for the parking meters - wish it was that price to park now lol

ive still got some sixpences. also old pennies,threepenny bits including a silver one. a two bob bit and a half crown. Ive also got a couple of farthings. ive got some of the half pences from when we went decimal. They didnt last long did they?

ive still got some sixpences. also old pennies,threepenny bits including a silver one. a two bob bit and a half crown. Ive also got a couple of farthings. ive got some of the half pences from when we went decimal. They didnt last long did they?

hiya just come across this site i think the ones writing about the 2 1/2 pence piece were remembering the 5p piece. now that continued after decimalisation it was the old 12 pence d shilling.in fact in 1950/52 i used a 1/4 penny piece legally, how i bought a small loaf ,it was 1" x 2" and it was 3/4 d or 1 1/4 d this was at a bakery at hunters bar on the corner opposite the school, and i never ever saw threepenny bits used on machines.

hiya just come across this site i think the ones writing about the 2 1/2 pence piece were remembering the 5p piece. now that continued after decimalisation it was the old 12 pence d shilling.

No, we definitely used to use old sixpences for 2.5p, just as old shillings were made into 5p and two bob bits were made into 10p.

No, we definitely used to use old sixpences for 2.5p, just as old shillings were made into 5p and two bob bits were made into 10p.

the last general issue sixpence was issued in 1967 and a special proof version struck for inclusion in the farewell proof set of 1970. However, sixpences, shillings and florins continued to be legal tender at values of 2½, 5 and 10 new pence respectively



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixpence_(British_coin)

Mary had a metal cow
She milked it with a spanner
The milk came out in shilling tins
The little ones a tanner.

I thank you :hihi:

I remember when Brian May (Queen, lead guitarist) was on Multi-Coloured Swap Shop asking the kids to send them in, he uses them as plectrums

My other arf and everyone around the same age as us are trying to send me nuts. They laughed when I asked the question.

"Ya nutter, was never such thing. 2 1/2p coin? Ya mad"

I remember it back in the 70s and have read 1 post on this forum where it mentions it so I know it existed.

Anyone else?

Would be good to see a pic if anyone could direct me to one.

I not only remember the old "tanner" but also the small silver threepenny bit - quite a few were still in circulation in the 40's.

Dont forget to check the dates.

They were sterling silver until 1920, when they were reduced to 50 percent silver.

The last 50-percent-silver sixpence was minted in 1946; they were changed to cupro-nickel from 1947 onwards

Three make 18 pence and 4 make 2 bob

hazel

The version I remember ended with a line about Old King Henry and his personal hygiene....:twisted: