A little more detail….

Recycled silver Lucky Sixpence

I have decided to hand cut each one of these tweet togetther pendants from only the finest antique sterling silver lucky sixpences.

The design is freehand drawn onto the sixpence. This basic sketch is embellished and brought to life with hours of careful carved cuts. From here several holes are drilled and the sections are delicately cut away. The edges are filed, smoothed and finally polished. The end result is a lovely, original, recycled pendant with a fantastic history.

The sixpence is presented on either a fab sterling silver necklace with a handmade shepards crook safety catch and accompanying wee star, moon or heart… or a simple but lovely adjustable braided cotton necklace cord. 100% Handcrafted & Recycled in Cambridge, UK

The lucky sixpence tradition, where the coin is given as a symbol of good luck, has its roots in British history, particularly in wedding and Christmas traditions. Introduced in 1551 during the reign of Edward VI, the sixpence was a circulating coin for centuries. Its association with good luck is linked to various customs, including placing it in a bride’s shoe or including it in a Christmas pudding. The lucky sixpence lore has been firmly establish through many of our traditions. These traditions are part of the soul of our culture.

Origins of the Sixpence as a Lucky Charm:

Wedding Tradition:It’s common for a sixpence to be placed in a bride’s shoe to wish her good fortune. This practice is thought to have originated in the early 1600s when the Lord of the Manor presented the coin as a wedding gift, and later, it became a customary dowry gift.

Christmas Pudding Tradition:Another tradition involves placing a sixpence in the Christmas pudding before it’s cooked. The person who finds the sixpence in their portion on Christmas Day is said to have good luck for the coming year. This tradition is believed to have started during Victorian times, specifically on the Sunday before Advent, known as “Stir Up Sunday,” according to The East India Company Collections.

Fairies and the Sixpence:Some folklore suggests that fairies would reward a tidy maid or housewife by leaving a sixpence in her shoe.

The Sixpence’s History as a Coin:The sixpence was first struck in 1551, during the reign of Edward VI, and was initially a silver coin. It was a popular coin in British pre-decimal coinage for over 400 years. It was demonetized in 1980, but its legacy as a lucky charm endures.

The sixpence’s journey from a circulating coin to a symbol of good luck is a testament to its enduring presence in British culture and tradition.

Size : approx 19 mm