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Silver Sixpence Co
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FAQs
Why do coins of the same year vary in price?
There are two reasons for this. Firstly, a coin from the year 1600 in Fair condition will be worth far less than a coin from the same year in Extra Fine condition. Secondly, coins from the same year and of the same grade may vary in price because there was more than one series of coins minted in the year and some are rarer than others, also there were frequent mistakes made which makes some coins very collectable.
What is grading?
Grading is a way of trying to describe a coin in a meaningful way - this is especially important given that the price of a coin is usually dependent on the grade. Grades in the UK are (from the lowest) as follows: POOR = extremely worn and most of the detail will be missing but you will still be able to identify the type of coin, FAIR = much wear but more of the detail is visible, GOOD = almost all of the lettering will be there and the date will be easy to read, VERY GOOD = all of the coin will be readable and some of the finer details will start to become discernible, FINE = the detail is starting to take shape and the coin is becoming more collectable, VERY FINE = there is wear on the high points but most of the fine detail shows clearly, EXTREMELY FINE = there is wear on only the highest points, UNCIRCULATED = no wear on the high points. In the USA grading is done on a numerical system.
Should I clean my coin?
Coin collectors everywhere would say "no, please don't". An expensive coin that has been cleaned may very well lose most of its value. Coins will pick up wear and tear and be generally affected by their environment. A coin that is cleaned, especially with solvents or by scrubbing, will lose a layer of the metal and leave very fine abrasion marks, this will affect its collectability. However, we hope that your sixpence will stay in your possession forever and its value will be purely sentimental so giving it a clean to make it shine on your wedding day is quite acceptable.
If I want a special sixpence how long will it take to find?
This depends entirely on the age of the coin and also (more importantly) the grade that you are after. For example, an Elizabethan sixpence in any grade will be fairly easy to locate but one in Extra Fine condition will take much longer to find. Just let us know when your wedding day is and we will do our best to have your sixpence ready for you.
Will I have to pay for a special order up front?
No - we will not even ask you for a deposit. The price of coins is very fluid and we cannot quote a price for you until we have located the coin in the correct grade. When we find it we will let you know the price whereupon you can make your decision to purchase - you will have no obligation to buy.
How does the tradition say the sixpence should be used?
Traditionally the sixpence was placed in the bride's left shoe on the morning of the wedding by her father. It is believed that this dates back to the times when the father would provide the wedding dowry.
