The accession of Queen Elizabeth I in 1558 was a key moment in history, marking the start of a 45-year reign that is considered to be one of the most successful in English history. Deemed the Golden Age, it was a period when the arts and literature flourished, trade and industry thrived, and many successful voyages and discoveries were made by adventurers such as Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Humphrey Gilbert.

The newly introduced sixpence (brought in by Elizabeth I's brother Edward VI in 1551) was a fine silver coin made to replace the devalued testoon. Its place in British coinage remained secure until decimalisation in 1971, making it one of the most collectable denominations in numismatics.