Penny Vs Cent Terminology

A penny is a coin used in Britain. A cent is used in the US. However, because of Britain's influence in America since the 1600s, the US cent is still associated with a British penny.

The composition of 5 cent pieces in 75% copper and 25% nickel. Nickel is also easier to say than "5 cent piece".

My theory on this relates to the New York money of account. At the time, for the U. S. mint was established, each state had their own "money of account" based on its relationship to the Spanish milled Dollar. Typically these were expressed in the terms of shillings to the dollar, a shilling being a "12 pence coin". None of these monies of account had a physical existence. The money of account for New York, the financial center of the country, worked out to roughly 96 pence to the dollar. Since a great deal of business was done with New York most everyone was familiar with the New York money of account. The new U. S. one cent at 100 to the dollar is almost exactly the value of the New York penny. It was also roughly the size, weight, and value of the British halfpenny. Since the term penny was more familiar to the people, and the New York penny was the equivalent of the U. S. cent, the cent acquired the common use name of penny.

I do try to refer to the five cent piece, as a five cent piece not a nickel. I do get sloppy at times and use the slang term, but I do try to stress using proper terms at all times. Not just for cent and penny. Use of correct terms, in the long run, reduces confusion.

The US Mint also calls the Lincoln coin a Penny on the COA's that come with proof and uncirculated sets.

Does anybody actually care about accuracy of origins anymore, really? This is a moot point, strawman again. I think HISTORICALLY Conder's has it right, the divisions of 1/200 for the Half Cent, and 1/100 for the One Cent on their respective reverses proves that point. The monetary setup of the US (pre-Treasury and Wall Street) set the Standard for the new country's entrance into the world of international business and trade.

Secondly, one must remember, we did have our first war for Independence from the British Crown (second was 1814). Sentiment was still quite divided among many of the population(ain't changed much) as to the "should have/shouldn't have" attitudes. The CENT, was in opposition to the PENNY back then. As time passed, England became allied strongly, so either became acceptable as long as the old "coppers" still freely circulated. The end of the large coppers should have signalled the end of debate, but by then, no one cared either way, was thoroughly accepted.

Now, let's take this argument a few steps further since "nickel" was mentioned. Of course all realize "nickel" is slang, so is two-bits" for a quarter, wholly acceptable, but uncommon now. My question is, why not continue to consider it the " Half Disme"? Why? Because an act of Congress authorized a monetary unit to be called "5 Cents" and "One Dime" on their bodies. Oh, we must not forget now the most obvious overlooked slang term, the "Buck"!

Like I said once before on a previous post ; When you go to the bank CRH'ing ,we don't say can I have 10 rolls of Cents . No ,we say can I have 10 rolls of Pennies .
You know what , I'm tired of this pettiness trying to make hardline Numismatics happy by calling them Cents . From now on I will be calling them Pennies and who ever don't like it , tuff poop .

Me too. Silliness to make a distinction - I was reminded of that at the hardware store this morning, where at the checkout counter there was a little box that said "Take a Penny, Leave a Penny".

Some folks feel the need to correct others, regardless of if they are right, or not.

This.