Title: Elizabeth I Milled Six Pence Coin
Year: 1562
Material: Silver
Creator: Tower of London
This is a Late Tudor coin that was milled in the Tower of London during the reign of Elizabeth I. Children would hope to get six pence in their shoe during Christmas time. The six pence coin was used until the 1970s.

This was the first coin that I ever bought. I found it in a small antique store in England while I was studying abroad. Personally, this coin is important to me because of my deep interest in British history. British history is very dramatic and is intertwined in the founding of many nations. I have found that most artifacts from Britain always have a hidden story.

Elizabeth I is one of the most famous British monarchs and her coin shows us some symbols that are recognizable to us today.

On the front of the coin there is the Tudor rose, a wildly popular symbol in history. One the back there is a crest with lions (the symbol of English monarchs) and Fleur de lis (the symbol for France). This tells us that Elizabeth considered herself the ruler of England and France.

Here is my favorite video to learn the Kings and Queens.

English Kings and Queens Song :

I have not had my coin on display because of its value. I keep it in a safe so that I never have to worry about losing it! I suppose you could say it is on “display” in my safe. Most of the other items in my safe are important family heirlooms or valuable artifacts I have purchased on various trips.

Purchasing this coin has led me to learn about the amazing online community of coin collectors. There are thousands of sites and forums about antique coins. The Royal Mint is a really interesting site to use for research.

Besides engaging collectors, this coin might also attract Shakespeare fans and social historians. In A Midsummer Night's Dream (Act 4, Scene 2), we learn that by his absence, Bottom the Weaver will forgo sixpence a day for life from the Duke. In Elizabethan times, six pence was roughly the wage for a day’s labor. With it,  you would be able to buy two dinners, six performances of Hamlet at the Globe Theatre, or an unbound copy of the play itself. A little bit goes a long way with six pence.