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 Replies: 63 / Views: 12,326 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
Quote:
The coin says cent while the wrapper and box says pennies. So I vote for both. It seems that the collectors call it a cent while the non collector calls them a penny. I believe there are more non collectors so more people call it a penny. That's why I use both depending on who I am talking to. Ha...I just posted something similar in a different thread about this same debate. I guess what irks me is that those that insist that it should only be a "cent" do so in a manner that is kind of condascending or arrogant. I am not sure what the right term to use here is but some in that camp act like they're right and the rest of us are wrong or ignorant. The truth is, it's interchangeable depending on who you talk to. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1031 Posts |
Once again I have to say...  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
677 Posts |
CoinHunter53562 said: Quote:
I guess what irks me is that those that insist that it should only be a "cent" do so in a manner that is kind of condescending or arrogant. I am not sure what the right term to use here is but some in that camp act like they're right and the rest of us are wrong or ignorant. Absolutely!! The reason I decided to stoke the fires again was that as I was reading some threads, I saw that some members posted for the sole reason of "correcting" the topic starter. No pertinent information, just snide comments. It goes something like this: The thread starter posts something like "What do you think of my new Lincoln Penny?". There are always a few members who can't help themselves but to say something like, "Wow, I didn't know Great Britain put Lincoln on the penny". IMHO, enough snobbery! When describing our copper (colored) one cent coin, "penny" should be a perfectly acceptable term. Normally, I would agree with "morgans dad": Quote:
The funny thing is most everyone does use the term penny, however that does not make it right just because the terms we use for the "slang" of words is just gone tooo far, .... But, it's not like the term penny is something new that the kids just came up with. It is deeply ingrained in our national lexicon. Here is definition #1 from the American Heritage Dictionary: Quote:
Penny: In the United States and Canada, the coin that is worth one cent. I guess my whole point is this: By splitting hairs, and dismissing collectors who call cents, pennies, you run the risk of alienating people. And isn't one of the reasons for this forum to encourage new collectors? Not to make them think it is only the "Hobby of Kings"? (as it was once called) |
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Valued Member
United States
164 Posts |
can't resist putting in my Two Cents worth..two pennies worth..two cents..two pennies....I'm SO CONFUSED |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1015 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
Quote:
When I see the word penny or pence, I think immediately of the Brittish coin. When I see the word CENT, I know exactly what someone is taking about Why do you know what they are talking about when they say cent? There are many more cent coins in the world than there are pennies, Including your neighbours to the north! (About a hundred countries use some sort of cent, not including those that start with cent) Quote:
It's called a Nickel because that is what it is made from This is EXACTLY the point I was making. It's called a nickel for a reason OTHER than what is stamped on it. And so is the penny! You just gave weight to the argument for allowing those that want to , to call it a penny, just like they have no problem with you calling it a nickel!  Edited by QuickSilver
02/15/2009 08:47 am
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Rest in Peace
United States
1943 Posts |
Kurt and Vermontensium, you say our forefathers used cent and not penny. Since, just like today, cent is the demonination on the coin and penny is the name given the coin with that denomination but is not on the coin, how do you know our forefathers didn't refer to our one cent and Half Cent pieces as pennines? I'm not sure off the top of my head how you back this up. Just to stoke the fire here a little more. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Pyrbob, If you look back at my comment, I did think that "penny" was in popular use since the founding of our country. There's no disputing that, just as B.Franklin said "A penny saved is a penny earned". On the other hand, I do know how "cent" was adopted from the onset to represent our decimal currency because it stands for 1/100. So I think we agree. I'm less of a stickler on this point than some, because I use both in conversation. As a collector, I simply use "cent" when discussing US coins because I think it's less confusing--as I collect Australian pennies too.  |
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Valued Member
United States
70 Posts |
The title to this thread is "Cent vs. Penny. The debate is over!" I'am glad the debate over.  GLG |
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Rest in Peace
United States
1943 Posts |
Your right Kurt. My apologies. I misread your post. And yes GLG, this is a great title isn't it.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
I think jedichef has finally hit the nail on the head!
The coin is called a penny, the value is a cent. The only reason this concept is more confusing with the cent than it is with the nickel is because the penny is only worth 1 cent "or" A cent.
Because in English you very often say "A" when you mean "1" it means that the two expressions are confused. Unlike if someone says 5 cents.
Example:
"Give me a penny" or "Give me a cent"
In the second sentence the person asking may be thinking one cent but would not normally say the number one. When asked this the listener has to make up their own mind as to whether they think the person asking specifically means the coin or the amount.
BUT, because there is only one way to give someone 1 cent it is irrelevant. Different listeners are going to decide differently in their own minds and think that way for the rest of their lives. If it was never discussed it would never be discovered that different people think about this differently.
"Give me a nickel" or "Give me 5 cents" or "Give me 5 pennies", here the distinction is clear to the listener. (However, If asked for 5 cents I believe the assumption would be the person asking meant a nickel.)
Of course what this means is that there is never going to be a resolution to this problem. As different people have thought this way for most of their lives and are not about to be persuaded the other way now. However compelling an argument anyone makes!
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Moderator
 United States
23537 Posts |
I just go by what I read The US coin referred to as a Penny has written on it ONE CENT It was called a Penny as a throw back to colonial times when the US settlers came from The UK where the copper coin was a PENNY. The UK and many other commonwealth countries have had Penny inscribed on their coinage. there has never been to my knowledge an official coin produced by the Mint that has inscribed Penny as a value. so call them what ever you please but the US has produced a one cent Two Cent Three Cent and five cent coin No coin with the inscription Penny.  so does the debate go on  Quote:
I guess what irks me is that those that insist that it should only be a "cent" do so in a manner that is kind of condescending or arrogant. I am not sure what the right term to use here is but some in that camp act like they're right and the rest of us are wrong or ignorant. what me arrogant. I barely can spell me own name right   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
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what me arrogant. I barely can spell me own name right Lol I cant say that I have seen you act in such a manner. It's only a few really, and I am not going to name specific names but you're not one of them (so far anyway...ha ha). |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
Quote:It goes something like this: The thread starter posts something like "What do you think of my new Lincoln Penny?". There are always a few members who can't help themselves but to say something like, "Wow, I didn't know Great Britain put Lincoln on the penny". Yep I was in another similar thread where someone mentioned finding a Wheat penny in the take a penny change tray. He was immediately corrected, with a picture showing a circle around the word cent on the reverse. It's hard to read people's moods/intentions on a message board but that one came across in a condascending tone to me. As pointed out by others, our US 5-cent coins do not seem to have the word "nickel" on them so should we just refer to them as "5 cents" going forward since we should be going off of what the coin has imprinted on it according to some? :) |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
Quote:
The US coin referred to as a Penny has written on it ONE CENT And the US coin referred to as a Nickel has FIVE CENTS written on it! So why does no one mind it being called a Nickel? And don't say because it is made from nickel. That is why it is called a nickel, not why no one objects to it being called as such. Just as a penny has a reason it is called a penny, other than what is written on it. This is what I want to know the answer to. Why do those that refuse to accept the "P" word so object to it? When they are happy to accept Nickel for 5 cents. Is it because of some sort of anti-British sentiment from the past? If not then why? By the way I am not accusing anyone here of being anti-British, I am more thinking about what the men who chose the cent may have been thinking. They do not seem to object to any of the other coins being called something other than that which is stamped on them. Just the penny. Why is that? A good reason please. Edited by QuickSilver
02/15/2009 11:09 am
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Replies: 63 / Views: 12,326 |
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Posted 02/15/2009 12:52 am
