CENT vs PENNY.. What is the correct term?

I have enjoyed reading this thread. I'll bet most, well maybe most, can guess what I think about the subject.

I just enjoy poking those that have a burning desire to correct those around them on everything. LOL

 

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On coin forums we should always use cent if we're talking about the US one. It can avoid some confusion. However, since cent is a homophone,in spoken conversation sometimes it's better to use penny.
If I see a stranger drop a coin and I go pick it up to give it back to him and say, "hey buddy I picked up your cent". He might think I'm making a comment about his showering habits. So to avoid confusion and a possible black eye I'm going to say "hey buddy, I picked up your penny.

 

If we say "US pennies" or "Lincoln pennies" then we all know we're not referring to UK pence or Australian Kangaroo coins

 

Yep, it's all about communicating and being understood.

 

No, you couldn't care less. Saying you could care less means you do care.
This is turning into a fun game.

 

Freedom of speech prevails over the topic.

~ "That's my buck two fifty" :v

 

After this enlightening discussion, try to parse the answer to this question..."What's the difference between beer nuts and deer nuts?"

 

Depends a bit on whether you go on to call him "happy".

 

Is there a rule that the coin has to be called by what's printed on it?

And what about the Canadian penny? It said "one cent", not "penny" on it too. But when they did away with it, they minted all sorts of "Farewell to the Penny" commemorative coins.

 

The legend on the pieces isn't just their "value," it's what they are. Then the "common designation" is a nickname. For example, a dime is a proper unit of American money, and a one-dime piece is labeled as such. Ask somebody what it's "worth," and they'll almost certainly say ten cents.

 

(Silver) Half Dimes and (nickel) Five Cent pieces were completely different coins, though they worked out to the same value, and both sorts were minted in parallel for several years, 1865-1873.

 

My thoughts are, if I'm ever in doubt, I just flip it over and see what it's called.

If I recall correctly, it say ONE CENT

The US Mint is not immune from hiring folks who have no idea. Just look at Ed Moy. His specialty was Human Resources. So, if someone from the mint says "penny", then they just need a little edumacation so that they can slough off the ways of the average laymen and start referring to the coin for what it really is. 1/100 of a dollar.
Not 1/240 of an English Pound Sterling.
End of story.

 

It matters not to me unless someone brings it up.

Kinda like ":New-cue-lar" vs "New-clee-ar"

 

In America...
A one-cent piece is a penny.
A five-cent piece is a nickel.
A ten-cent piece is a dime.
A twenty-five-cent piece is a quarter.
A fifty-cent piece is a half.
A hundred-cent piece is a dollar.

Now. Realize that 'cent' (singular) is a short way of saying "one-cent". A cent is not a coin, it is a value --- yet that value can be imparted as a stand-alone coin or piece of money. You are using the value of the coin, relative to a "dollar", which is the standard of U.S. money (or what we 'trade' in) as an adjective to state its value.

A penny is an accepted word used to name the object (in this case, a one-cent piece) in the U.S. that carries the value of 1/100 of a dollar.

For all the purists who want to say Americans don't have pennies because 'cent' is on it, that is just idiotic. Objects can be and are called by more than one name. The common name, widely used in the U.S. for the one-cent coin is penny. Get over it.

 

http://coinsgalore.co.uk/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=2943

^ What would the Dutch think about this debate

 

Page 6?

 

Sad, but yes, 6 pages.
If some people are so petty that they'd argue so vehemently over this, I have to wonder what little they'd kill for.

 

Pre 1970 it was 240 Pennies = £1

 

You are correct. It says "ONE CENT". So why is it not called a ONE CENT? You should not get 3 cents in change. You get 3 one cents in change. Good luck!