Cent (currency)

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, the 1¢ coin

Related Topics:
Currency - Monetary - Unit - Coin - United States - Canada

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is generally known by the nickname penny, alluding to the

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British coin and unit of that name.

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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.

Related Topics:
Etymologically - Latin - Hundred - Mint - World - Banknote

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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¢).

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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).

Related Topics:
System - Pound sterling - Decimalisation - 1970 - Shilling - Old pence

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Examples of currencies around the world featuring cents are:

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• Argentine peso - divided into 100 centavos
• Australian dollar - divided into 100 cents
• Brazilian real - divided into 100 centavos
• Canadian dollar - divided into 100 cents
• Chinese renminbi - divided into 10 jiao (also mao), which are also divided into 10 fen; a jiao would be equivalent to a dime while a fen would be equivalent to a cent
• European Monetary Union euro - the coins bear the text EURO CENT; actual usage varies depending on language. Greek coins have "ΛΕΠΤΟ" ("lepto") on the obverse of the 1c coin and "ΛΕΠΤΑ" ("lepta") on the obverse of the others.
• Hong Kong dollar - divided into 100 cents (the smallest division in circulation is 10 cents)
• Iranian rial - divided into 100 dinars, although no longer in use due to devaluation
• Macanese pataca - divided into 100 avos (the smallest division in circulation is 10 avos)
• Malaysian ringgit - divided into 100 sen
• Mexican peso - divided into 100 centavos
• New Zealand dollar - divided into 100 cents
• Philippine peso (piso) - divided into 100 centavos (sentimos)
• Russian ruble - divided into 100 kopeks
• Singapore dollar - divided into 100 cents
• South African rand - divided into 100 cents
• United States dollar - divided into 100 cents

Examples of currencies which do not feature cents

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• Japanese yen - the yen in modern times doesn't feature any subdivision of the monetary unit
• Chilean peso - was divided into 100 cents until 1984. Since then, the peso doesn't feature any subdivisions
• Kuwaiti dinar - divided into 1000 fils
• Mauritanian ouguiya - divided into 5 khoums
• Malagasy ariary - divided into 5 iraimbilanja
• Vietnamese dong - No longer subdivided