Cent or Penny?

It should be referenced to as "one dime".

 

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I have never understood why coin collectors have this anal retentive need to be so technical. I'll admit that the proper term is the "cent" and I use "cent" when I talk about coins. However, I feel "penny" is a perfectly appropriate nickname for the coin because it is so commonly known. It is slightly improper, possibly even a "slang" term...but it is far from an insult to anything. I don't understand the need to jump down someone's throat over this...and I see it a lot on several forums that I visit. I just don't understand it.

 

reality is reality, no matter how many slang terms you add to a language, it will never be appropriate.

 

Isaiah, "Insult" is a very interesting term you have chosen to use in this discussion. "Inaccurate or imprecise" would make sense to me, but "Insult??" Do you really feel that someone who calls a cent a penny has insulted your sense of coin collecting? Wow? That's sweating the small stuff! and represents a level of intolerance I find disturbing. I bet most numismatic oriented people on this site would not be so offended as to think some new coin collector's reference to a penny would be such an offense to rise to the level of an insult.
John

 

Being raised in the US and calling it a penny my whole life I really don't care what people call it in casual coversation , but seeing how upset people get when calling a cent a penny , I'll try to be more accurate in numismatic discussions and call it a cent , but if I forget that's life in the USA .
rzage

 

The word "insult" was used for a reason. I am deeply insulted when anyone refers to this marvelous issue in such a derogatory way and insults it's fiber of being, then yes, I'm insulted.

 

Wow, that was deep.

 

Pllllllllleeeeeeeaaaaseeeee. We're into fiber of being....????.. This is a coin and we are talking about it being called a penny or a cent. No matter what you call it, I have some beautiful pennies and cents, and am happy to have them. Get some balance.
John

 

Sorry, but I am a purest when it comes to words. If you look at the coin, it says "ONE CENT" right on it. And if you look at a UK penny, it says "ONE PENNY."

But, OK, we can call a dollar a "buck." So, I dunno...

 

That is an excellent example. You are technically correct, the coin is called as cent. It should be called a cent because that's it's name..."penny" is technically improper. But, "penny" is a nickname. All nicknames are improper to a certain degree. My given name is Richard...but I go by Richie. Am I dishonoring the name of my grandfather whom I was named after by having his name but choosing to go by a nickname? I don't think so. Just like calling a dollar a "buck," it's improper but not worth making a big stink about.

The only time the use of the word "penny" would bother me when describing a US cent is if I saw it used in published literature. Sources of information should have that correct. For normal coin conversations, either is fine with me...I will use "cent" but I won't get on my high horse and correct someone for using "penny."

 

Ok, people. Fiber of being...???.Purist..??? wow, we are talking about a hobby here.. Have any of you been to a Heritage auction where people are paying $100,000 plus for a single coin...they aren't worrying about fiber of being... what about someone paying $100 ... worrying about fiber of being?? More concerned about the coin and the grade... I'll buy a beautiful penny just as quickly as a beautiful cent.. and I won't be insulted!
Insult is such a new and carefully chosen word....
John

 

I use penny when talking coins to non collectors

 

It is symantics! What difference does it make what it is called so long as the other person understands.

 

Like puddle?

 

Exactly what I do even though its always a cent to me.

 

Exactly. We all know what a cent or a penny is. So what. I am more concerned with what someone thinks the particular grade is and what the given coin is worth. Sheesh!!
John

 

I strongly disagree.

 

Well...when I speak of animals that are bovine in a plural sense I use the term cattle, but then again I am married to a veterinarian and it drives her crazy when I misuse the technical terms "cow", "hefier", "steer", and "bull".

Then again I walked in on her at Thanksgiving having an argument with her father where she was exasperated trying to explain to him that the British have "pennies" and we have "cents". (I was so proud of her!) lol

 

Isaiah. Expected a response. Why do you strongly disagree.? Explain.?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Numan
Exactly. We all know what a cent or a penny is. So what. I am more concerned with what someone thinks the particular grade is and what the given coin is worth. Sheesh!!
John
I strongly disagree.
Today 10:57 PM

"The word "insult" was used for a reason. I am deeply insulted when anyone refers to this marvelous issue in such a derogatory way and insults it's fiber of being, then yes, I'm insulted. "

You've got to be kidding -- someone calls the cent a penny and you believe it is so derogatory that it insults the fiber of your being or the fiber of its being ... You have to be the most sensitive person I have ever seen.
John

 

ha, great point. Insulted? Really?