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 Replies: 31 / Views: 1,691 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Posters get dinged regularly on the forum for using the term "penny" instead of "cent".
I understand our historic relationship with England and the derivation of the word "penny".
My question is, should there be any distinction between these terms given the widespread use of "penny" in our everyday conversation?
To wit -
"a bad penny"
"a bad penny always turns up"
somethng costs a "pretty penny"
"a penny saved is a penny earned"
"give a penny, take a penny"
"a penny for your thoughts"
"Pennies in Heaven"
"One penny, Two penny..."
I could go on, but you get the idea.
So is our one-cent piece just a a cent, or also a penny? Edited by Coinfrog
03/17/2024 7:56 pm
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
As long as one knows our lowest circulating coin is a cent,they can call it a penny if they wish. But what does it read right there on the reverse? John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3467 Posts |
My Two Cents, call it what you like. Penny, cent, one cent we all know what you mean. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3467 Posts |
Quote:
But what does it read right there on the reverse? Where does the word nickel appear on the Jefferson 5 cent coin? |
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Moderator
United States
54280 Posts |
Our own U.S. Mint calls them "penny". Look at the specifications for any coin set containing a Lincoln Cent, and they describe it as a "penny". The also call the Jefferson five cent coin a "nickel". Show your financial support of the Coin Community Family (click here)See my topic on Mexican Numismatic Medals (click here) |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10472 Posts |
Who's to argue with the coin wrappers?   |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4587 Posts |
A penny (UK coin) is NEVER a cent.
A cent (US coin) is colloquially referred to as a penny.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24878 Posts |
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10472 Posts |
I try to use the word CENT all of the time but even the US Mint uses PENNY in their descriptions......... Quote:
The penny was one of the first coins made by the U.S. Mint after its establishment in 1792. The design on the first penny was of a woman with flowing hair symbolizing liberty. The coin was larger and made of pure copper, while today's smaller coin is made of copper and zinc. Quote:
Unusual Pennies:
In 1943, pennies were made of zinc-coated steel because copper was needed during World War II.
At the beginning of 1943, a limited number of copper pennies were struck by mistake.
In honor of the Mint's 225th anniversary in 2017, pennies made in Philadelphia had a "P" mint mark for the first time.
In 2019, the West Point Mint made special collectible pennies with a "W" mint mark.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19110 Posts |
I'm too lazy to look it up.... How does authorizing legislation call it?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
996 Posts |
Penny is perfectly fine to refer to the one-cent coin, there are some peculiar people however that get bent out of shape about it, I tend to tune them out.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73579 Posts |
I usually call them cent, but that's just me.
Errers and Varietys.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24878 Posts |
I go by what it says on the coin.  Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
Edited by HondoB
03/17/2024 11:10 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6449 Posts |
Hondo, if that's true, then to nfine's point: do you call a Jefferson five cent coin anything other than "nickel"?
Sometimes when the slang term acquires the patina of age, it becomes interchangeable with the formal term. I think penny has reached that state with the one cent coin.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
I prefer using cent but have no issue with others using penny. Now if someone says, "My two pence worth", it should be corrected.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24878 Posts |
Brandmeister, I do call the US 5 Cents a "nickel". But that slang originated in the coin's metal. We don't refer to our cents as "coppers" so much, although I do call the new ones "zincolns".
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Replies: 31 / Views: 1,691 |
Posted 03/17/2024 6:52 pm
