In currency, the cent is a monetary unit that equals 1 / 100th of the basic unit of value. It also refers to the coin which is worth one cent. In the United States and Canada, a common nickame of the 1¢ coin is penny, plural pennies. (In the United Kingdom the name of the one pence coin is also penny.)
Etymologically, the word cent derives from the Latin word centum which means hundred. Mints all over the world usually create coins with values ranging from 1 / 100th to 100 / 100th of the monetary unit, while reserving banknotes for higher values. However, coins with a 200 / 100th or 500 / 100th value are not uncommon, especially in cases of commemorative coinage.
Cent amounts between 1 and 99 cents are usually indicated by the one or two digits followed by a lower-case letter c (1c, 2c), or by a cent sign which is usually pierced top to bottom by a forward slash or a vertical line: ¢ (e.g., 1¢, 2¢).
Other monetary unit subdivision systems are possible, such as the old pound sterling, which until decimalisation in 1970 was subdivided into 1 / 20ths (shillings - s) and 1 / 240ths (old pence - d).
Examples of currencies around the world featuring cents are:
Examples of currencies which do not feature cents
Last updated: 08-10-2005 13:19:47
Last updated: 08-26-2005 12:47:42
