Crossword Genius

For sixpence, he treats hides (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tanner

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'for sixpence' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Old sixpence ' mean 'tanner' so perhaps 'sixpence' could also mean 'tanner')

'he treats hides' is the wordplay.
'he' becomes 'Tan'.
'treats hides' becomes 'ner' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'tan'+'ner'='TANNER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tanner that I've seen before include "Person making hides into leather" , "He cures hides, for an old sixpence" , "one getting bronzed?" , "Leather maker or old sixpence" , ".One who cures animal hides" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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