* A sixpence—often called a tanner—was an old coin used when British money was divided into pounds, shillings, and pence; and you really did have to know your twelve times table to work out how much things cost. I used this coinage when I was a young boy, and I still sometimes long for the days when I could jingle a couple of tanners in my pocket along with a chunky thrupenny bit or two. Today’s pound coins don’t jangle in the same way.