sixpence

[ siks-puhns ]

noun

, plural six·pence, six·penc·es

1. (used with a singular or plural verb) British. 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.

sixpence

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sixpence¹

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

Example Sentences

Stone, who was born on 13 June 1932 in Chelsea, began taking photographs aged 13 after his mother gave him a Box Brownie Kodak camera that cost two shillings and sixpence.

From BBC

"I think whisky was two shillings and sixpence."

From BBC

Each of the figures cost sixpence each and was given to her mother, who passed it to her.

From BBC

Mr. Pumblechook worked his head like a screw to screw it out of me, and said, “Is forty-three pence seven and sixpence three fardens, for instance?”

From Literature

It was heard all of the coins were silver and included half crowns, shillings and sixpences.

From BBC