Cent or Penny?

Life is far too short to be insulted down to the fiber of ones being at people using a common colloquialism. Its just what people do, they often prefer a more informal terminology. Sometimes something becomes KNOWN more commonly by the the colloquial term.

The 'widows mite' is actually a Judaean Lepton or Prutah...I know what they are talking about when they say widows mite and I don't think less of them, I don't think they are ignorant, I don't get offended...Or when people call the emperor Antoninus 'Caracalla' or call a chimpanzee a monkey.

Tell me...do you see the word 'Caligula' on this coin? I dont..This is a coin of Caius Caesar (more improperly Gaius) So why is it that if I list a coin under the name Caligula people know who I am talking about but they couldn't care less about this guy name Caius.



is this wrong that he is known only by a nickname? Should I be offended? Maybe I am not being offended enough.

My pet peeve is the improper use of their, they're and there...but I try not to call it out when I see it and I see it often.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

So if you call a cent a penny you are ignorant or insulting the coin collecting world. What about those people that call wheat cents "Wheaties", are they being affectionate? A mercury dime has nothing to do with mercury, but is acceptable. A buffalo nickel has nothing to do with a buffalo, but is acceptable.

 

I'm sure that the people in here that have gone to a coin show have encountered this : "Hey Mr. Dealer , Do you have any Walkers ? Why no Mr Customer I don't. I only have 50 cent coins. OK then do you have any Mercs ? Not this time buddy , I only have 10 cent coins. Ok Mr Dealer do you have any pennies ? Yeah I do. Wheats? Indians ? Whatcha lookin' for ? " I usually see some that are selling for 2 bits but have spent as much as a half a yard on some nicer pennies. Cents ? Pennies ? With all of the problems in this world when did this become a REAL problem ? It's just my opinion but if someone calling a CENT a PENNY is the WORST thing that could EVER happen to you in your lifetime you would have it made. I apologize for the mini rant but these are my thoughts on a moot point. Oh, and Happy Holidays to Everyone !...........................John

 

I really agree with what you are saying. It's not worth making a big deal out of and that's why I didn't understand it from the beginning. However, when talking to a dealer I make sure to use the term "cent" because I don't want to sound like I don't know anything. This is one subtle way I let a dealer know that I do understand what I'm talking about and am serious in the hobby...and frankly, that I won't be easy to take advantage of.

But, my personal feeling is that in casual conversation everyone knows what they are talking about. If there was some actual confusion, than clarifying cents from pennies might be necessary...other than that, IMHO they are interchangeable for casual coin discussions.

 

When I talk with casual or non-collectors, or just people who show general interest in coins, "penny" is fine. If I talk with a fellow collector, the coin is a 'cent.'

My screen name is the word I had always used for 1909-1958 wheat cents when I began collecting as a nine-year old. It still sticks with me, 39 years later and always remains my favorite coin to find on the extremely rare occasion when they happen to arrive in change. Brightens my day.

If any of our members read Q. David Bowers' column in the December 15, 2008 edition of Coin World about the first day of availability of Flying Eagle Cents on May 25, 1857, directly at the doors of the Philadelphia Mint, the 88% nickel thick cents were called, "nicks." What I liked in particular in Bowers' article was the Philadelphia Bulletin newspaper calling the new cents affectionately, "diminutive little strangers."

 

I believe mercury dime is acceptable because it has been used for a significant period of time and throughout the dramatic history of the nations. I believe "wheatie" is unacceptable and insulting because it is amodern term that serves no purpose other than affection.

 

The first "mercury" dime was 1916, 7 years after the first "wheatie" penny in 1909.

Jim:smile

 

I understand you point on wheatie, even though I disagree.
But the point you make about the Mercury dime could very well be used to support the nickname "penny" because it has been used for a significant period of time. Longer in fact the the term "Mercury dime" I believe.

 

I believe you're correct. I could be mistaken, but I believe the name originates back at the beginning of US coinage with large cents in the 1790s. Because, they resembled in size and value the British penny which had been circulating in the colonies and probably were still circulating in the new US.

 

Thats the way I understand it. Which according to Isaiah's logic would make the term "penny" much more legitimate than the term "Mercury Dime".

 

Exactly, the phrase "Mercury Dime" has nothing to do with that coin...just like the word "penny" has nothing to do with the "cent." The Winged Liberty Head Dime neither depicts the Roman god Mercury nor does it contain the metal mercury. However, it does bare a striking resemblance to the the Roman god and therefore was given the nickname. Just like the cent bore a resemblance to the British penny and was given that nickname. The penny nickname is just much older and if anything is therefore more ingrained and appropriate.

If you thinking calling the cent a penny is grossly inappropriate or insulting, then you should feel even stronger about calling the Winged Liberty Head Dime a "Mercury Dime."

 

the cent coin is called a penny, the five cent coin is called a nickel. Always has.

end of discussion.

 

I'm so insulted right now, by that statement.

 

Oh boy.. ok for me.. online, I say Cent. But In real life, I have a lisp. And I am self conscious about it, So I judge how many S's Ive used in the sentence already. Too many and my (in my head) my words start sounding like crap, So I avoid words like Cent, coin"s", and I even would go as far as saying, "may I take a look at (insert coin name here). As opposed to, May I "s"ee your (insert name here)
So It all comes down to how my liso sounds for the day. Some days its worse than others depending on how tired or anxious or whatever, I am.

 

And I know, I know, a ridiculous post.

 

Why? You never responded to the last post by CamaroDMD or the last one by me which disprove your logic that "penny" is wrong but "Mercury Dime" is ok.

 

Okay, me thinks he might be pulling our legs...

 

Who cares? I think arguments about the common vernacular for the lowest value and meaningless coin in our current circulating coinage are ridiculous.

 

That was kind of my point for starting the discussion. I have seen numerous times on this forum and others where someone (usually a newer poster with a question to ask) asks something about their "Wheat Back Penny" and more people jump on the word "penny" than the question itself. It seemed really stupid, so I thought I would see what people thought.

 

i think its in appropriate to distinguish a penny from a cent. How about Nickles, Double Eagles, 2 bits and quarters.

Ruben