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 Replies: 52 / Views: 4,999 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
I was sorting some cents with my son last night and I told him about the penny/cent thing. My wife overheard us and asked if it says "nickel" on a 5-cent piece  I think I'll call them pennies from now on just to mess with everybody  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
Thank you denco7, that was a perfectly logical explanation.  It took me a while to figure out I leaned towards the numismatists side of the hobby, instead of the stacking or hoarding side. canard744: Funny how people can get so worked up over something they don't care about. Say shibboleth and pass!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
When I grew up a candy bar cost 5 cents, a bottle of soda was 10 cents, and a pack of cigs was 25 cents. Nobody said 5 pennies or 10 pennies for the cost of an item.... Just my 2 cents worth..
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2368 Posts |
In the grand scheme of numismatics, the exact name you call a denomination of US coins doesn't really matter. Heck I use cent and penny interchangeably. Just my humble opinion.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
1893S: That is an interesting point. I live in the Rocky Mountains and I've always heard people call them cents, too. You are dating yourself with the comment though, as that is something my 93 year old grandfather says.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8517 Posts |
It's the OCD that causes numismatists to get all fired up over penny vs cents. Most of us have it.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2805 Posts |
Quote:
You can't expect to walk in to a group of astronomers and start talking about the planet Pluto, without expecting to be corrected that, Pluto is not a planet. "Oh, hi guys! Are you astrologers?" (now run away as fast as you can!) The cent/penny thing is a nice way to make ourselves feel good, but ultimately, it doesn't really matter. I guess you have to have a special mindset to want to collect coins, and that same special mindset leads to an urge to get this kind of thing right. But all kinds of countries have affectionate, if inaccurate, slang nicknames for their coins - learn to love it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
964 Posts |
I just got a $25 box of onesies at the bank...oops I mean pennies... I mean cents. I'm so confused.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
Our system of money is based on the decimal system. Hamilton suggested that the decimal system was the most convenient system to adopt and offered unit subdivisions. A cent is the unit term that represents 1/100th of a dollar. The codified law merely states the production of a cent-coin and a five cent coin but makes no mention of what either should be called (cent, penny, nickel... whatever). Various interpretations of the law interchangeably use the term "cent" and "penny". People seem to know what you mean regardless of your preference. The unit measure, CENT, is required to be on the coin minted (along with other requisite verbiage) in order to indicate to the public the unit value of the coin and its buying power (motto, country of origin - USA, etc.). From what I've read, this probably was more meaningful in the early days. But it's not necessarily the proper name for the coin.
Indeed, the term "penny" may trace to colonial/British nomenclature and "nickel" to the composition of the coins minted beginning in 1866, but the usage of the terms today are still relevant. Purists and/or numismatists may opt to try to set the record straight, but what that record is...well...it's unclear to me. Folks may read the code and conclude "cents" is the proper name and not the unit measure. That's fine with me. Others may read it and conclude that proper names aren't legislated. That's fine too. So call it what you will...I'll know what you mean.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1431 Posts |
As a collector of both British and American coins, I personally prefer differentiation of the terms if only to prevent confusion. (I'm now wondering if the US Half-Cent in its day was ever commonly referred to as a half-penny)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1531 Posts |
I would like to refer back to denco7's explanation. That's exactly it Quote:
To me, it just seems like a way for coin collectors to show what vastly superior intellect they have when it comes to the hobby of coin collecting. It shows that they are above calling it a "penny" like the common man does, because they are a TRUE numismatist and know the REAL name for the coin! That's not it at all... I don't correct folks because I want to show my superiority. It's one of my coin collecting pet peeves.  Edited by Cruisinfusion
07/23/2014 01:42 am
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Valued Member
United States
158 Posts |
I, personally, could care less whether someone calls it a penny or a cent, or a nickel or 5 cents. It is, in my opinion, ignorant to whine and complain about a simple difference in terms for a coin.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1747 Posts |
What about the Quarter being called 2 bits? or the dollar being called a Buck or a tenner being a sawbuck, every coin has some other name.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
Let's not forget the fin.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9415 Posts |
Lesson for today, for some of our U.S. friends. This is a cent, and I don't care if you call it a penny. _USA_Lincoln_Cent_-_Professional_Life~0.jpg) This, however, is a penny and it really annoys me, when I hear it referred to as a large cent.  End of rant. Steve Edited by triggersmob
07/23/2014 09:05 am
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Replies: 52 / Views: 4,999 |
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Posted 07/22/2014 4:36 pm
