The world is so used to having a form of currency that it is almost unthinkable to imagine the atrocity the world would be if money didn’t exist currently. Maybe we would still be relying on barter trade to acquire our day-to-day needs. Imagine exchanging a commodity just to earn a trip to the Maldives or other famous destination location.
You might end up running out of furniture in your house in the pursuit of calm and relaxation. And that’s precisely why currency was introduced. Whether you are in the United States, a desert in Saudi Arabia, a tropical forest in Africa, or deep diving in an ocean of your choice, money is required.
And the phrase toil and sweat for food; has just taken a new form in the sense of people working daily to earn money for their everyday needs. However, money is a collective term. Every continent or even country has its own form of currency with varying monetary values against each other. Therefore, if you want to go on holiday or relocate to a different country, you should familiarize yourself with their currency type. And subsequently, find a place to change your currency first so that you don’t have a problem getting by.
One such form of currency is the penny. I reckon most, if not all of you, have heard mentions of the penny in your day-to-day activities. Or even while following the stock market or just watching your favorite Caucasian TV show. But how exactly did it become a part of the world’s currency? We took the liberty of finding out and compiling the ‘deets’ for you.
Getting acquainted with the penny
To put it simply, a penny is a coin. It is the smallest unit of currency that couldn’t be broken down further. Several countries use the penny as part of their currencies. In America, a penny is the de facto name of the one-cent coin, while the Irish use the term penny for the one-cent euro coin. It is also used in Canada to denote the cent and Britain as the penny.
The term penny is expansive and can be rooted in the Carolingian system like the French denier, Chinese fen, euro cent, or German pfennig. Currently, it forms an unwavering part of the British currency, with 1 penny being equivalent to 0.01 dollars.
A deep dive into the history of pennies
But before we hit the currency conversion scales, let’s look at the origin story of the penny. The penny originated from Scotland and was first attested in a Scots text in 1394, going by peni. There are currently many variations of the name, with some going by penning, pennig, and even pending. And not the left undone type of pending.
It has even been recently proposed that the penny may have been derived from the Carthaginian currency, the Punic. The coins had the face of the Carthaginian goddess Tanit present. The medieval silver penny resembled the Greek drachma, the Roan denarius, and the Carthaginian shekel. The first Carolingian-style pennies were minted by King Offa of Mercia with major currency reforms introduced by Charlemagne’s father, Pepin the Short.
Countries like South Africa started out with large-sized pennies referred to as the Cartwheel penny owing to its size. The Capetonians, however, called it the Devil’s penny thanks to the symbol engraved of Britannia holding a trident. Superstition is a thing. Even when it comes to money.
Charlemagne later introduced modest-sized pennies, which became a significant part of countries’ cash frameworks, far and wide, thanks to colonization. Before upgrading to bronze pennies, most nations started out with unpopular copper pennies. The British still use the penny, with some countries like the United States, Canada, and Scotland using the same though on a smaller scale.
So how much are 80,000 pennies?
If you plan to travel the world in 90 days, familiarizing yourself with the different countries is essential to ensure smooth sailing and upkeep. Imagine being stuck on foreign soil, struggling to understand the language, and having even tougher luck accessing bare necessities. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a nightmare to me. And not the pinch yourself awake kind.
Suppose you happen to have 80,000 pennies with you. Then it would do you good to know the subsequent value in dollars as most things are valued in dollars and not cents, especially in the United States. Taking a romantic walk to the bank with a bag filled with 80,000 coins jingling about seems like it would give off rich aunty or sponsor vibes. But, fortunately, or unfortunately, 80,000 pennies are equivalent to 800 US dollars. And while it may sound like a ton of money, it is not enough to get by. This is considering house pricing, food, and other bills that we, unfortunately, can’t seem to shake off as a civilization.
Even if you decide to weigh your options and relocate to Canada, there is not much difference. 800 US dollars is equivalent to about 1,026 Canadian dollars, which is still a measly amount in the face of everyday bills. But if you live with your parents or cost-share bills with a friend, then 80,000 pennies is a considerable sum.
Over to you
Are you now looking at your 80,000 pennies mountain and considering your life choices? While it may not last you long, considering bills are a pesky hump you have to live with, it can still make a notable difference if spent wisely.
Knowing the currency exchange rates is a crucial requirement when you plan to change your geographical location, and it involves crossing country borders. And if you are a connoisseur of pennies, I hope this article helps you shed some light on where you currently are in terms of US dollars.
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