1939 King George VI Lucky Silver Sixpence Pendant Necklace.
This valuable coin has been set into a Tibetan Antique Pendant with a slender matching necklace.
Sixpenceswere first introduced 363 years ago. Minted during the reign of every British Monarchsince Charles II 1660-1685, as well as during the Commonwealth, with a vast number ofvariations and alterations over the years. During the reign of George II a number of issueswere designed by John Sigismund Tanner, who became ChiefEngraver of the Royal Mint, and it has beensuggested that this is the origin of the nickname "tanner", which wasa popular name for the coin until decimalisation.

TheRoyal Mint debased the silver coinage in 1920 from 92.5% silver to 50% silver. Sixpencesof both alloys were minted that year. This debasement was done because of therising price of silver around the world, and followed the global trend ofelimination, or reduction in purity, of the silver in coinage. The minting ofsilver coinage of the pound sterling ceased completely in 1946 for similarreasons, exacerbated by the costs of the Second World War. New "silver" coinage was instead minted in cupronickel, an alloy of copper and nickel.

In Britain, there is a well-known tradition of thebride wearing "Something old, something new, something borrowed, somethingblue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe". A silver sixpence in thebride's shoe is a traditional wedding gesture for good luck; customarily thefather of the bride places the sixpence, as a token of him wishing her prosperity,love and happiness in her marriage.

They are also used as a good luck charm by Royal Air Force aircrew who havethem sewn behind their wings or brevets, a custom dating back to the Second World War.

To retain this wonderful tradition our coins, withsignificant dates are now carefully mounted into a variety of Pendant Necklacesto be worn with great pride and satisfaction.

RJH.