old penny

noun

The pre-decimalisation United Kingdom penny, ¹⁄₂₄₀ of a pound sterling. Symbol: d

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Meanings

nounold penny (plural old pence or old pennies)

plural old pence · plural old pennies

  1. The pre-decimalisation United Kingdom penny, ¹⁄₂₄₀ of a pound sterling. Symbol: d
  2. The pre-decimalisation Irish penny, ¹⁄₂₄₀ of an Irish pound. Symbol: d
  3. A coin worth one old penny.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
penny

Origin

Retronym for penny to avoid confusion with the new penny.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

old penny. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/old%20penny

MLA

“old penny.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/old%20penny. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “old penny,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/old%20penny.

Source: old penny on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.