$8 Price Drop: 450 YR OLD SIXPENCE FOR LUCKY BRIDE ' S SHOE: BRIT 1569 Elizabeth I




Item History & Price

Information:
Reference Number: Avaluer:23328095Shape: Money
Features: ReusableCountry/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Color: SilverCustom Bundle: No
Year Manufactured: 1569Material: Metal
Occasion: WeddingTheme: England
Brand: UnbrandedNumber of Items: 1
Scent: moneyPattern: Solid
Original Description:
"Something old,
something new,
something borrowed,
something blue . . .

and a SIXPENCE for her shoe!"

Up for auction is a single, authentic, exactly 450 Year Old (1569) sixpence for one very lucky bride's shoe.
I. THE ELIZABETHAN TRADITION

The last few years have seen the popular revival of a tradition of (usually the father of the Bride) placing an old sixpence -- an English coin long out of circulation -- in the Bride's left shoe before walking do...wn the aisle.

It is said that placing a sixpence in the bride's left shoe brings the married couple a future filled with luck, wealth, and happiness.

If that turns out to be true, would you deprive them of grace, fortune and satisfaction?

And if not, then at least a photo of the Maid of Honor or Father of the Bride placing this sixpence in the Bride's left shoe before the ceremony could make the coin a treasured keepsake: the proverbial "jolly, jolly sixpence to last them all their lives."
Many online narratives assert that the sixpence tradition dates back to the late sixteenth century. These accounts claim that the English Lord of the Manor would present a sixpence to his (or someone else's) Bride to Be as a charm to insure future prosperity.

In 1569 sixpence coins had been minted for less than two decades, and then only occasionally. Queen Elizabeth had other things on her mind: among them, she was slowly recovering from her anger and disappointment about the marriage of the one great love of her life -- Robert Dudley -- to one of her most attractive ladies in waiting. But rumors had been swirling that Dudley had murdered his wife to make himself eligible for marriage to QE1, and somehow it had seemed to him that it would be less scandalous to run off with that pretty waiting lady than to go a courting at court.

Elizabeth was not amused.

If the oral traditions about the sixpence are correct, this could have been one of the very first sixpence a Lord of the Manor might have used for a Bride's shoe -- hard to come by even in that day. Perhaps the heavy wear to Elizabeth's face on this coin is explained by friction from the feet of many brides?

This old custom -- memorialized in the earlier and allegedly more correct version of "Something old, something new, . . ." is supposed to have become forgotten in the US. It is no surprise that sixpence coins had become rare on this side of the pond after we colonials expelled the Redcoats from Britain's former American colony.

Then a few enterprising Americans attending weddings in the UK supposedly took notice of how this charming sixpence figured both at the end of the familiar rhyme and in the marriage ceremony in the British Isles. Thanks to these entrepreneurs, and increasing opportunities to shop online for unusual, vintage items from England, today's American dad or Maid of Honor now can resurrect a proud and magical tradition!
And if you are willing to spring to for this 450 year old sixpence, you would also get the "something old" part covered in spades by buying a single item and yet not have to worry about anyone whispering about you being cheap. No additional charge for the many complements you will doubtless receive for your cleverness, not only for knowing about the old tradition, but for pulling it off in such a classy way.

II. THE TRUE FACTS

Other (and quite probably better researched) accounts suggest that the rhyme and the increasingly popular association of the sixpence with weddings was popularized in England in late Victorian (not Elizabethan) times. Because many Americans loved all things British during the gilded age, the custom was quickly adopted by some in the US.

Decades later the coin in the shoe practice all but disappeared from American weddings. Nobody remembers when or why customs like this are forgotten. But it did prove lucrative insofar as it gave enterprising entrepreneurs an opportunity to make up the Elizabethan "Lord of the Manor" part of the tradition out of whole cloth. (Our President calls this sort of thing "hyperbole.")

Folklore dating back to 16th century Britain does spin tails of fairies and others dropping sixpence coins in deserving women's shoes. Shockingly however, all the old manuscripts tell of reasons other than weddings for these gestures. For further details, check here: https://www.tilly-online.com/something-old-something-new/?v=79cba1185463

III. SO WHY DO THE SIXPENCE THING THEN?
The trend these days seems to be for people to be inclined to believe whatever makes them happy or what they think might make them happier. I have not been very lucky in my efforts to dissuade those who tilt this way.

Perhaps you, dear reader, like the idea of playing the part some sixteenth century Lord of the Manor might have played on his daughter's big day. If so, the fact that there is no evidence this tradition had become a "thing" when Elizabeth I was alive should not bother you at all. While she probably never would have imagined future brides making a point of treading on her coinage as they marched down the aisle to take their solemn vows, she certainly would have appreciated that with this coin the Bride would be unaware that she was stepping on an image of Her Royal Highness's face.

And surely Queen Elizabeth would have remembered that the very last words probably ever written by her one true love a few days before he died: “I humbly kiss your foot… by Your Majesty’s most faithful and obedient servant.” The Virgin Queen was fated not to be lucky in love -- but it would be her wish that a kiss on the foot by her coin might bring better fortune to the future bride.
The shield of the royal coat of arms on the sixpence would, in versions of the Sixpence that were to be minted several centuries later, be surrounded by the Motto of the Order of the Garter: "Honi soit qui mal y pense" -- "may he be shamed who thinks badly of it." How appropriate this old adage is for the modern sixpence wedding, as this classy coin is for the modern Bride's shoe. 
Whatever the reason you may think this coin will bring the Bride good fortune, wealth, and contentment, that is fine. Go ahead and bid.The young couple needs all the help they can get.

IV. NUMISMATIC MATTERS
Unlike most of the sixpence coins you will see on offer, this is a coin with real collector's value. Ask your coin collecting friends: show them the coin in the photograph -- that is the one you will get -- with its well defined features -- albeit on only one side.

Also, don't worry about such an old relic being stepped on by the Bride during the ceremony: I will include a comfortable plastic cover to protect it while it is in her shoe. I will pack the coin in a shiny silver-metallic cardboard jewelry box to provide it with a home during the reception and after. In any case, she will not have to worry about messing up the sort of bright, fussy, extra-fine finish you might find on newer collector's coins. This tough old girl will be perfectly comfortable in The Bride's footwear, even if she decides to dance the Funky Chicken at the reception.

V. CAVEATS AND DETAILS

Though I think this coin is doing reasonably well for 450 years old, I am not qualified to make representations as to grade. If the newlyweds want they can have the coin professionally evaluated and slabbed right after the honeymoon.
As you think about how to gather the other things listed in the rhyme, please bear in mind that this is not a one stop wedding shop: I do not have any new, blue garters the Bride can borrow, so please do not ask.

The sixpence is 100% guaranteed to be fully satisfactory or return it to me for a full refund within 30 days less shipping. I provide no warranty if the lucky sixpence malfunctions later on.

Full disclosure: At some point, many Grooms have been known to complain that they have "no pence to spend and no pence to lend and no pence to send unto my wife, POOR WIFE." Placing this coin in the Bride's left shoe will almost certainly assure that the condition is temporary. In any event, during times that it is "for poorer, " and before it is once again "for richer, " at least this gift will remind the Bride that she still has something from you of lasting value far greater than just your two cents worth.

After you bid, please check out my other pipes, coins and oddities: FREE SHIPPING or save on shipping when you purchase more than one qualifying item.
Items shipped within 2 business days of payment. Thank you for paying promptly.





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