sixpence

American  

[siks-puhns] / ˈsɪks pəns /

noun

plural

sixpence, sixpences

1. (used with a singular or plural verb) a sum of six pennies.

2. (used with a singular verb) a cupronickel coin of the United Kingdom, the half of a shilling, formerly equal to six pennies: equal to two and one-half new pence after decimalization in 1971.

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sixpence British  

/ ˈsɪkspəns /

noun

1. a small British cupronickel coin with a face value of six pennies, worth 2 1/ 2 (new) pence, not minted since 1970

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Etymology

Origin of sixpence

First recorded in 1350–1400, sixpence is from Middle English sexe pans. See six, pence

Example Sentences

The chaplain recorded that the plaque was nailed to some kind of marker, with a silver sixpence bearing the queen’s image.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2025

Once a week, if the family had a sixpence to spare, Thomas would walk to the public baths and swim “just to get clean.”

From New York Times • Oct. 31, 2020

On April 3, 1769, Robert Hays paid 45 pounds, two shillings and sixpence for 339 and one-half acres in what would shortly become Franklin Township.

From Washington Times • Aug. 17, 2019

"I saw Gielgud's Hamlet when I was 12," he later recalled, "standing at the back for sixpence."

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2017

She washes my eyes and gives me sixpence to take Malachy to the Lyric to see Boris Karloff in The Man They Could Not Hang and have two pieces of Cleeves’ toffee.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt