<Tr> <Th> Designer </Th> <Td> Edgar Fuller and Cecil Thomas </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Design date </Th> <Td> 1947 </Td> </Tr> <P> The sixpence (6d; / ˈsɪkspəns /), sometimes known as a tanner or sixpenny bit, is a coin that was worth one - fortieth of a pound sterling, or six pence . It was first minted in the reign of Edward VI and circulated until 1980 . Following decimalisation in 1971 it had a value of 2 1 / 2 new pence . The coin was made from silver from its introduction in 1551 to 1947, and thereafter in cupronickel . </P> <P> Prior to Decimal Day in 1971 there were 240 pence in one pound sterling . Twelve pence made a shilling, and twenty shillings made a pound . Values less than a pound were usually written in shillings and pence, e.g. 42 old pence (17 1 / 2p) would be three shillings and sixpence (3 / 6), often pronounced "three and six". Values of less than a shilling were simply written in terms of pence, e.g. eight pence would be 8d ('d' for denarius). </P>

When did a sixpence go out of circulation