Mr Barclay said the threepenny bit would have been produced at a coin mint on the site of the old St Leonard's Hospital, next to York's Museum Gardens.
They also included a selection of threepenny bits, a 1916 halfpenny and a penny piece from 1921.
And with sixpences becoming more scarce, the tradition may have to be adapted to the handing out of old threepenny bits.
It included a threepenny bit, a sixpence, a shilling, a two shilling, a half crown, and four and five shilling pieces.
He used to walk up our terrace and throw threepenny bits to the children.