🪙 About the 1956 UK Sixpence

The sixpence coin—affectionately known as a “tanner”—remained popular in British pre-decimal coinage well into the 20th century. The 1956 issue features a youthful Queen Elizabeth II and celebrates the unity of the UK through its reverse design.

Specifications:

• Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II

• Composition: Cupronickel

• Weight: 2.83 grams

• Diameter: 19.3 mm

• Edge: Milled

• Obverse: Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, inscription: +ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA

• Reverse: Floral emblems — rose (England), thistle (Scotland), shamrock (Ireland), and leek (Wales), all crowned

• Minted by: The Royal Mint

🕰 Historical Insight

The coin dates from a calm yet significant period of post-war Britain. In 1956, Queen Elizabeth II was only four years into her reign, and her image on coinage symbolized modern continuity in a recovering nation. The floral reverse emphasizes the theme of unity among the UK’s four nations.

🧭 Collecting Note

Discovered among a bulk eBay lot, this sixpence adds more than just a denomination to your collection — it adds context and character. As a circulating coin, it might have passed through countless hands in shops, markets, or cafés in mid-century Britain before finally reaching your collection.