Britain’s Last Sixpences
May 6, 2026
Even some six decades after the last circulating sixpence coins rolled off the presses at the Royal Mint in Great Britain, the allure of the denomination maintains a stronghold in pop culture and society. The sixpence, which was first struck in 1551, was a mainstay in Britain’s monetary system until the last circulating pieces were issued in 1967; the coin served as legal tender in Britain until June 30, 1980.
What brought about the end of the sixpence coin? One might say it wasn’t exactly an overnight decision. After centuries in circulation, the sixpence and its many pre-decimal kin – including the farthings, shillings, florin, and other denominations – had their fate sealed in 1966, when Britain moved to decimalize its monetary system. The changes, which were based on making the pound as the nation’s monetary unit and pence as the 100 fractions thereof, occurred over a period of years.
From PCGS