Sixpence, Oak Sprigs, Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

The pre-decimal sixpence (6d) was a unit of currency equalling one fortieth of a pound sterling, or six pence sterling. It was used in the United Kingdom, and earlier in Great Britain and England.

The denomination had undergone several earlier changes: the King George III sixpence (1816 - 1820), King George IV first issue (1821 only), King George IV second issue (1824 - 1826), the first "wreath" type (1831 - 1887), a brief withdrawn version featuring the Coat of Arms, a second "wreath" type (1887 - 1910), and then the English Lion on a crown (1911 - 1927).

This design, featuring oak leaves, was part of the re-coinage which updated the designs of most of the circulating denominations. The reverse has six sprigs of oak intertwined ending with six acorns; six indicates the value - in a similar way, the parallel threepence has three oak sprigs. This type was only issued for King George V. A new reverse featuring the king's monogram was introduced for King George VI.

The composition is 0.500 silver with 0.0452 oz ASW (ounce of Absolute Silver Weight). Sixpences continued to be legal tender for a while after the currency became decimal in 1971, with a value of 2 1⁄2 new pence, until they were demonetised on 30th June 1980.