Sixpence 1878, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Sixpence 1878, Coin from United Kingdom (demonetised 1980)
CoinSixpence 1878

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 "wreath" type of sixpence was introduced at the beginning of the reign of King William IV and was issued from 1831 to 1887, well into the reign of Queen Victoria. Its design is the same as the shilling coin issued in the same period, only with a different inscription. The reverse inscription was an innovation at the time, breaking with two earlier traditions - it shows the value and denomination, whereas earlier coins did not, and was in English - whereas earlier coins carried inscriptions only in Latin.

The composition is Sterling Silver (0.925 silver) and the coins have 0.0841 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. Thus, a sixpence coin issued in 1878 was legal tender for 102 years.

MintRoyal Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 2,624,525 (2.6 million)
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Obverse
United Kingdom / Sixpence 1878 - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows the young uncrowned effigy of Queen Victoria, facing left; the portrait is by William Wyon and is widely known as her "Young Head".

The Queen's hair is bound with a double fillet (ribbon) and collected into a knot behind.

Around, the monarch's legend: VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:. Translated from Latin: Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith.

Obverse Inscription VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Reverse
United Kingdom / Sixpence 1878 - reverse photo

Surrounded by a beaded border, the reverse of the coin shows, within an open wreath of olive (left) and oak (right) branches, the value and denomination in words, on two lines: SIX PENCE.

Above the value, St Edward's Crown. Named after Saint Edward the Confessor, it has been traditionally used to crown English and British monarchs at their coronations since the 13th century (with a two-century gap between 1689 and 1911).

Below the ribbon tying the wreath, the date of issue: 1878.

There is a die number above the date.

Reverse Inscription SIX PENCE 1878
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Sixpence 1878: Known varieties
Variety No die number
Mintage Issued: unknown (included in total)
Details

Listed in Krause only, not in Remick or Spink.

Variety Error DRITANNIAR
Mintage Issued: unknown (included in total)
Details

Error - DRITANNIAR instead ofr BRITANNIAR in obverse legend.

Variety Proof
Mintage Issued: unknown
Sixpence 1878: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Museums Victoria Collections 2016 Coin description
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1971 Mint
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1971 Mintage
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1971 Varieties Proof, Error DRITANNIAR
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins Varieties No die number
Showing 100 from a total of 151 coins of type: Sixpence
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Sixpence 1816 unknown King George III - Small Head GEOR: III D: G: BRITT: REX F: D: 1816
Sixpence 1817 10,921,680 King George III - Small Head GEOR: III D: G: BRITT: REX F: D: 1817
Sixpence 1818 4,284,720 King George III - Small Head GEOR: III D: G: BRITT: REX F: D: 1818
Sixpence 1819 4,712,400 King George III - Small Head GEOR: III D: G: BRITT: REX F: D: 1819
Sixpence 1820 1,488,960 King George III - Small Head GEOR: III D: G: BRITT: REX F: D: 1820
Sixpence 1821 863,280 King George IV - Laureate Head GEORGIUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:
Sixpence 1824 633,600 King George IV - Laureate Head GEORGIUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:
Sixpence 1825 483,120 King George IV - Laureate Head GEORGIUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:
Sixpence 1826 Second Reverse 689,040 King George IV - Laureate Head GEORGIUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:
Sixpence 1826 Third Reverse 689,040 King George IV - Bare Head GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1826 ·
Sixpence 1827 166,320 King George IV - Bare Head GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1827 ·
Sixpence 1828 15,840 King George IV - Bare Head GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1828 ·
Sixpence 1829 403,920 King George IV - Bare Head GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1829 ·
Sixpence 1831 1,340,195 King William IV - Bare Head GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:
Sixpence 1834 5,892,480 King William IV - Bare Head GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:
Sixpence 1835 1,555,320 King William IV - Bare Head GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:
Sixpence 1836 1,987,920 King William IV - Bare Head GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:
Sixpence 1837 506,880 King William IV - Bare Head GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:
Sixpence 1838 1,607,760 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1839 3,310,560 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1840 2,098,800 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F:D:
Sixpence 1841 1,386,000 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1842 601,920 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1843 3,160,080 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1844 3,975,846 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1845 3,714,480 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1846 4,268,880 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1847 unknown Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1848 586,080 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1850 489,960 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1851 2,288,107 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1852 904,587 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1853 3,837,930 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1854 840,116 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1855 1,129,084 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1856 2,779,920 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1857 2,233,440 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1858 1,932,480 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1859 4,688,640 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1860 1,100,880 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1862 990,000 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1863 491,040 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1864 4,253,040 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1865 1,631,520 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1866 5,140,080 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1867 1,362,240 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1868 1,069,200 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1869 388,080 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1870 479,613 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1871 3,662,684 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1872 3,382,049 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1873 4,594,733 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1874 4,225,726 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1875 3,256,646 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1876 941,435 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1877 4,066,486 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1878 2,624,525 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1879 3,326,313 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1880 3,892,051 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1881 6,239,447 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1882 759,809 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1883 4,986,558 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1884 3,422,565 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1885 4,652,771 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1886 2,728,249 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1887 Old Wreath Design 3,675,607 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
Sixpence 1887 Withdrawn Type 3,675,607 Queen Victoria - Jubilee Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT: REGINA F: D:
Sixpence 1887 New Wreath Design 3,675,607 Queen Victoria - Jubilee Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT: REGINA F: D:
Sixpence 1888 4,197,698 Queen Victoria - Jubilee Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT: REGINA F: D:
Sixpence 1889 8,738,928 Queen Victoria - Jubilee Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT: REGINA F: D:
Sixpence 1890 9,386,955 Queen Victoria - Jubilee Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT: REGINA F: D:
Sixpence 1891 7,022,734 Queen Victoria - Jubilee Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT: REGINA F: D:
Sixpence 1892 6,245,746 Queen Victoria - Jubilee Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT: REGINA F: D:
Sixpence 1893 Jubilee Head 341,000 Queen Victoria - Jubilee Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT: REGINA F: D:
Sixpence 1893 Veiled Head 7,010,000 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Sixpence 1894 3,467,704 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Sixpence 1895 7,024,631 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Sixpence 1896 6,651,699 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Sixpence 1897 5,031,498 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Sixpence 1898 5,914,100 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Sixpence 1899 7,996,804 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Sixpence 1900 8,984,354 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Sixpence 1901 5,108,757 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Sixpence 1902 6,372,501 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1903 5,410,096 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1904 4,487,098 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1905 4,235,556 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1906 7,641,146 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1907 8,733,673 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1908 6,739,491 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1909 6,584,107 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1910 12,490,724 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Sixpence 1911 9,161,317 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Sixpence 1912 10,984,129 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Sixpence 1913 7,499,833 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Sixpence 1914 22,714,602 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Sixpence 1915 15,694,597 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Sixpence 1916 22,207,178 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Sixpence 1917 7,725,475 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Sixpence 1918 27,558,743 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Showing 1 to 100 of 151 Coins.
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Sixpence 1878: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Coin TypeSixpence, Wreath First Design
Issued1878
MonarchQueen Victoria
EffigyQueen Victoria - Portrait by William Wyon (Young Head)
ReverseImperial Crown - St Edward's Crown and the Tudor Crown
Face Value6 (x Penny)
Total Mintage2,624,525 (2.6 million)
CurrentNo; demonetised 1980
Material0.925 Silver
DesignerJean Baptiste Merlen
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationCoin Alignment (Axis 6)
Size19.0000 mm
Mass2.8276 g
OCC IDXGAV-POXA-CVBK-EMDY
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Sixpence 1878: Photos
ImageDetails
Sixpence 1878: Photo Great Britain 1878 6 pence / thumbnail Great Britain 1878 6 pence
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Sixpence 1878: Photo Great Britain 1878 6 pence / thumbnail Great Britain 1878 6 pence
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Source
Sixpence 1878: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom3910
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsGreat Britain KM# 751.1
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsGreat Britain KM# 751.2 (No die number)