MORE ON THE PENNY-CENT HOLY WAR

No one seems to object to the use of the term "nickel" to denote the five cent piece, even though it too is not the "official" term for the coin. The mint certainly doesn't, they used it in the same sentence that contained the dreaded "penny." (On the off-chance a non-collector is reading this, I belabor the point that "dime" actually is the legal term for the coin worth ten cents. The coin itself reads "ONE DIME" and it doesn't get any more official than that.)

One thing that might reduce the copper cops' angst a bit (probably not) is the realization that "penny" is clearly a colloquial reference to the physical coin rather than the abstract unit of a hundredth of a dollar. When one uses the term "pennies" here in the US, it's invariably a reference to groups of the one cent coins.

Consider the very different meanings understood by everyone (other than the penny police) of "Do you have fifteen cents?" versus "Do you have fifteen pennies?" One question can be answered "yes" if you happen to have a dime and a nickel, er, five cent piece (or half dime) in your pocket. The other can't; they are actually asking for fifteen of the little copper-plated coins. (If they insist on the solid bronze ones, that's highway robbery. If they are looking for fifteen of the big ones, they're on our side; refer them to the worthies at the EAC.)

Or consider that no one would verbalize $1.63 as "a dollar and sixty three pennies"--in fact if they really mean "pennies" here the correct wrong thing to say would be "a dollar and sixty three pence." ("If you're going to do it wrong, do it wrong right," my brother sometimes says.)

So why bother calling the coin a "penny" instead of a "cent"? Because, in many contexts one finds that in order to make it clear you are talking about the generic physical coin without saying "penny" you often end up saying "one cent piece" or "one cent coin," which is more of a mouthful. The likelihood that saying it quickly and getting on with life is the motivation in most people's minds is suggested by the fact that "penny" is less likely to be used when the meaning is unambiguous. As on coin albums, and boxes of 2x2 holders. Although I hear people call it the "Lincoln Penny," "Lincoln Cent" is much more common. (Though admittedly "Indian Head Penny" is quite common, especially with non-collectors who know the things exist.)

I hope that is enough to convince at least some of the coin constabulary that "penny" is not just sloppy usage of a wrong word as a synonym, but rather, a use of a term which has, in colloquial American English, a slightly different meaning than "cent." And sometimes that different meaning is useful to people. Would I say "penny" in formal presentations or writing? Probably not; I'd drag out "one cent piece." After all, weight (of the completed work) gives bonus points. Something casual? Sure.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: MARCH 23, 2014 : Turning Cents Into Pennies (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n12a15.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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