A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain for over four centuries and was worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is definitely English and is believed to have begun in the Victorian era. Each item in the poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. A sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted but this is the real deal and every bride should have one.