Old silver Sixpence six 6 pence coin head dating 1573 Queen Elisabeth 1st in a presentation box. 136011_6 pence
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe. Almost everyone has heard this poem, or most of it. Something old represents the link between the bride's family and the past. Something new represents optimism and hope in the bride's new life. Something borrowed is to remind the bride that friends and family will be there for her when help is needed long after the wedding is over. Something blue is the symbol of faithfulness and loyalty. The sixpence, often worn in the left shoe, is to wish the bride and groom good fortune and financial security! The sixpence, worth six pennies, was a coin used in the British Empire beginning in 1551. Traditionally, during the early 1600's, the Lord of the Manor presented a sixpence to the bride as a wedding gift. Toward the end of the 17th century it became custom for the bride's parents to give the sixpence as a dowry gift to the groom. Once dowry gifts went out of style with the chastity belt, the sixpence became a gift given to the bride by anyone who wished her good fortune in her marriage. Huge quantities of coins were minted under the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603). An Elizabethan sixpence is easy to identify even if the date is not clear since they all (except for one very rare exception) had a rose behind the queen's head. During the reign of Elizabeth I William Shakespeare was born (1564), the Spanish Armada was defeated (1588), Sir Francis Drake died (1596), magnetism was discovered by English scientist William Gilbert (1600). ELIZABETH I WAS THE DAUGHTER OF HENRY VIII AND ANNE BOLEYN. SHE SUCCEEDED HER CATHOLIC SISTER MARY I AND FOUNDED THE ENGLISH PROTESTANT CHURCH. HER SUPPORT OF THE PROTESTANT CAUSE LED TO CONFLICT WITH THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN, RULED BY HER FORMER BROTHER-IN-LAW FELIPE II, AND CULMINATED IN THE GREAT ENGLISH VICTORY OVER THE SPANISH ARMADA. THE ELIZABETHAN ERA IS THOUGHT OF AS ENGLAND'S GOLDEN AGE.
Size: 4263px × 3573px
Location: UK
Photo credit: © Hire Image Picture Library / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1, antique, bride, charm, coin, collect, collection, crown, elizabeth, elizabethan, head, love, luck, lucky, mint, money, pence, queen, rose, shoe, silver, sixpence, wedding
