United Kingdom • 6 pence

British Silver Sixpence — .500 Dated Types

British .500 silver sixpence use 2.8276 nominal gross grams and 0.0455 reference fine silver troy ounce per matching coin. Five inspected types collectively cover 1920–1946, with different rims, portraits and reverses. The genuine 1928 photographs show the oak-leaf KM832 design. Sterling sixpence, trials and later base-metal pieces are separate.

1928 KM832 oak-leaf sixpence obverse — royal portrait and surrounding legend
Obverse — Genuine 1928 KM832 oak-leaf sixpence; represents this dated design only, not authentication, assay or every finish.
RHL Images / Retroplum / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0; Whole-face halves split from genuine paired source and converted to WebP; no artwork changes or upscaling; original RHL Images photograph had background and unrelated threepence removed by Retroplum · Image source · CC BY 2.0
1928 KM832 oak-leaf sixpence reverse — denomination, full date and dated reverse design
Reverse — Genuine 1928 KM832 oak-leaf sixpence; represents this dated design only, not authentication, assay or every finish.
RHL Images / Retroplum / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0; Whole-face halves split from genuine paired source and converted to WebP; no artwork changes or upscaling; original RHL Images photograph had background and unrelated threepence removed by Retroplum · Image source · CC BY 2.0

When a fresh spot bid is available, melt values use fine-metal content × spot bid. CashForCoins guide buying offers use the separately configured percentage for each metal. Selected rare/numismatic coins require an appraisal. Dollar amounts remain unavailable when a fresh quote or buying percentage is missing.

Verified coin specifications

Country
United Kingdom
Face denomination
6 pence
Composition
50% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified
Gross weight (grams)
2.8276
Fineness
0.5
Fine-metal weight (troy oz)
0.0455
Diameter (mm)
19.5
Edge
Varies by dated type
Mint
Royal Mint; actual specimen attribution required
Restrikes
Patterns, other alloys and unresolved replicas excluded
Issue years
1920–1946

Twenty-seven actual family years across KM815a.1, KM815a.2, KM828, KM832 and KM852. Rims and designs overlap in 1925–1927. KM832 lists proof/matte proof in 1927; a regular oak-leaf issue is not inferred. Sterling KM815 also lists 1920 and remains separate. Trials, patterns and later base-metal pieces are excluded.

Source precision
The five included dated tables agree with the designated melt reference on 2.8276 g, .500 fineness and .0455 ASW. Their shared diameter is 19.5 mm. KM815a.1/KM815a.2/KM852 specify reeding; KM832 notes varieties in edge milling and KM828 does not provide an edge specification. No uniform edge, thickness or unverified balance-metal formula is asserted.

Calculate this coin’s metal content

One coin contains 0.0455 troy oz of fine silver.

Formula: specified fine-metal troy ounces × quantity. Dollar melt value additionally requires an approved current metal price.

Obverse: identify the front

George V faces left on the genuine 1928 obverse, with his name and royal titles around the rim. Earlier George V sixpence have narrow or wide rims and a later modified portrait. George VI replaces George V from 1937 in the included series. Read the opposite face and full issue date; a similar royal portrait cannot establish denomination, alloy or finish.

Reverse: identify the back

The photographed sixpence has six oak leaves and acorns, SIX PENCE and the complete 1928 date. Earlier .500 types have a lion above a crown with the date divided around it. The George VI reverse has a crowned royal monogram dividing the issue date. Attribute those designs separately rather than applying the 1928 illustration to every year.

History and purpose

The reference distinguishes the narrow-rim and wide-rim lion reverses, a modified George V portrait and the later oak-leaf reverse. The transition overlaps in 1925, 1926 and 1927. The new George VI monogram type begins in 1937. These design changes help identify a coin even where nominal silver content remains the same.

How to identify this variant

Confirm SIX PENCE, both faces, the issue date and the matching dated design. All five inspected .500 tables give 2.8276 g and 19.5 mm. Rims and edge milling can distinguish varieties, but thickness and the remaining alloy-metal identities are not independently verified. A 1920 date alone is insufficient: the reference separately lists .925 KM815 in that year.

Understanding its metal content

One matching coin contributes 0.0455 reference fine silver troy ounce. Three contribute 0.1365 fine silver ounce and 8.4828 nominal gross grams. Nominal silver mass follows gross mass × .500; designated reference ounces retain the reference’s rounding. Count only pieces matching the actual composition and design. Worn, plated or altered pieces require separate assessment.

Dates, varieties and composition changes

Source-supported family issue years are 1920–1946. Finish availability and actual designs remain type-specific.

KM815a.1 — narrow rim, 1920–1925

Specific annual rows cover all six years, with a 1924 satin specimen separately labelled. The lion/crown reverse belongs to this .500 type, not the sterling KM815 also dated 1920.

KM815a.2 — wide rim, 1925–1926

Both dates are listed. It overlaps the narrow-rim type in 1925 and the modified-portrait type in 1926.

KM828 — modified portrait, 1926–1927

Both annual dates occur, including a separately labelled 1927 proof. The reverse retains the lion above a crown.

KM832 — oak leaves and acorns, 1927–1936

The specific 1927 rows are proof and matte proof; 1928–1936 have annual rows with proofs separately listed. The genuine 1928 pair illustrates this design only. The reference notes edge-milling varieties.

KM852 — George VI monogram, 1937–1946

Specific annual rows cover all ten years, with proof entries distinguished. Its royal monogram reverse is different from the oak-leaf illustration.

Melt value versus collector value

Keep the actual date, rim, portrait, reverse and finish together. A 1927 oak-leaf proof entry is not evidence of a regular circulation strike of that design. Earlier lion/crown pieces can share the same year with another included type. Reference silver content does not price a proof premium, grade or particular variety. Do not clean surfaces for photographic comparison.

Authenticity and condition

Provide both complete faces, the full date and denomination, plus an edge photograph and actual measured mass/diameter where available. The genuine reference pair assists identification but does not establish authenticity, fineness or finish of your specimen. Keep unresolved pieces separate until attributed.

Selling this coin

Sort matching .500 6 pence separately from sterling, other denominations, base-metal pieces and unresolved objects. The existing appraisal link preserves the chosen coin and quantity for collection details and photographs. Live dollar pricing is unavailable until a provider is approved. Reference metal content is not a purchase offer.

Sources and calculation methodology

The five included dated tables agree with the designated melt reference on 2.8276 g, .500 fineness and .0455 ASW. Their shared diameter is 19.5 mm. KM815a.1/KM815a.2/KM852 specify reeding; KM832 notes varieties in edge milling and KM828 does not provide an edge specification. No uniform edge, thickness or unverified balance-metal formula is asserted. Specific annual rows and independent image permissions were inspected on 2026-10-11. The reference pair illustrates 1928 KM832 oak-leaf sixpence only. Complete faces are split and converted to WebP without upscaling or invented artwork, with source and transformation credits. No reference prices, mintages or descriptive articles are copied.

Common questions

Does every 1927 sixpence have the oak-leaf circulation design?

No. KM832 lists 1927 proof and matte proof entries, while KM828 separately lists the lion/crown design in 1927. Identify the actual reverse and finish before attribution.

How much reference silver do three matching coins contain?

Three matching coins contain 0.1365 fine silver troy ounce and 8.4828 nominal gross grams. Dollar value requires an approved current silver price.

Do the reference photographs authenticate my coin?

No. They show a genuine sourced design, not an authentication, grading, finish or assay result for another specimen.

References

Issue-year references

Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-11. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.

Related coins

1932 KM831 oak-leaf threepence obverse — royal portrait and surrounding legend

British Silver Threepence — .500 Dated Types

Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.

United Kingdom • 50% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified

Issue years: 1920–1946

Fine silver: 0.022700 troy oz

1938 KM855 George VI florin obverse — royal portrait and surrounding legend

British Silver Florin — .500 Dated Types

Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.

United Kingdom • 50% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified

Issue years: 1920–1933, 1935–1946

Fine silver: 0.181800 troy oz

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