CENT vs PENNY.. What is the correct term?

The Mint is wrong, and it's not the first time and most probably not the last.

I have talked to Mint officials who agree that our smallest circulating coin is a Cent, and should only be called a Cent on their website as well, but that, so far, has not happened.

You can call anything whatever you want, but whether it's the right name or not is another thing.

And just because so many people call it by the wrong name, does not make any of this right.

JMHO and 2 CENTS worth...

 

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I agree that in the US , cent is the correct term. I also agree that those who use such to make themselves appear superior are more wrong.

 

The old one-two for the TKO!

 

Using proper English and correct terminology should not make anyone superior. Just right...

 

Are you inferior if you call a dollar a buck?

 

You don't -- you just pass the buck.

 

In the U.S., I think penny and cent seem to be interchangeable for most people when reffering to a single coin. However, if something cost more than a penny, they always seem to use cents. I don't think I have ever heard anyone say something cost 20 pennies.

 

Sure. Why would someone refer to cost in numbers of coins? Hardly anyone would say something cost 4 nickels. They would say 20 cents because it's the value they are talking about not the numbers of coins to reach that value.

 

The term penny for the US cent drives my batty on the forums, because when talking about coins and someone says penny my first thought is a British or Australian copper coin,.

 

Oh come on now!!! Save that argument for the next thread

 

Sorry, I meant to reply on Hommer's comment lol

 

I'm sick of folks correcting others over using the term penny. Both terms are correct and understood by most of the population of the US.

 

Most? I will bet everyone old enough to buy something would understand what happened if the clerk said "here are your 3 pennies change."

 

Keep your pennies, I want cents, dammit!

 

So I would be wrong if I said something cost a quarter?

 

It's both. We Americans use both cent(s) and penny(ies) to name the coin(s). We tend to use 'penny' more than cent, unless specifying a cost amount (vs. a counting amount). So if I ask "how much" someone should tell me in cents. And if I ask "how many" they need from me (cents), the should say in pennies.

 

Also, a penny is worth one cent. One Red Cent. So if they are equal, what does it matter?

 

A penny for your thoughts (just my two cents).

 

Every nickel I've seen says "five cents" on the back. I'm gonna have to start calling them Five Cent Pieces.