Threepence (British coin)

The threepence, often abbreviated as 3d, was a British coin worth three pennies. It existed in two distinct forms: the silver threepence and the nickel-brass threepence.

• Silver Threepence: The silver threepence, also known as a "Joey," was first introduced during the reign of Edward VI in 1551. It was a small silver coin that circulated intermittently, with periods of being discontinued and reintroduced, until 1945. The silver content varied over time as the coinage standards changed. Its small size contributed to its unpopularity, making it easily lost.

• Nickel-Brass Threepence: The nickel-brass threepence, often referred to as the "thrupny bit," was introduced in 1937. It was a twelve-sided coin, made of a durable alloy of nickel and brass. This design was chosen to make it more easily distinguishable from the silver sixpence, which was of similar size and color. It was heavier and larger than its silver predecessor. The nickel-brass threepence proved more popular than the silver version and remained in circulation until decimalisation in 1971, when it was demonetized.

The value of the threepence was equivalent to one-eightieth of a pound sterling. It was used for small transactions and was a common coin in everyday life in Britain for centuries. The introduction of decimal currency in 1971 rendered the threepence obsolete.