Cent (currency)
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In currency, the cent is a monetary unit that equals [1/100]th 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 is generally known by the nickname penny, alluding to the British coin and unit of that name.
Etymologically, the word cent derives from the Latin word centum and is related to the Greek εκατόν (hekaton); both mean hundred. Mints all over the world usually create coins with values ranging from [1/100]th to [100/100]th of the monetary unit, while reserving banknotes for higher values. However, coins with a [200/100]th or [500/100]th value are not uncommon, especially in cases of commemorative coinage. Many countries have pulled banknotes of a [200/100]th value out of circulation and replaced them with coins.
Cent amounts between 1 cent and 99 cents are usually indicated by the one or two digits followed by the cent sign, a lower-case letter c pierced top to bottom by a forward slash or a vertical line: ¢ (2¢, 99¢). Where the cent sign is not used, a lower-case letter c on its own is used (2c, 99c). In the United States and Canada, the first usage is more common, while in Australia, New Zealand and the Eurozone, the second usage is more common. In South Africa only the latter is ever used.
Other monetary unit subdivision systems are possible, such as the old pound sterling, which until decimalisation in 1971 was subdivided into [1/20]ths (shillings - s) and [1/240]ths (old pence - d).
Examples of currencies around the world featuring cents, or related words from the same root such as centimo, centesimo, sen, are:
- Aruban florin
- Australian dollar
- Barbados dollar
- Bahamian dollar
- Belize dollar
- Bermuda dollar
- Brunei dollar (as sen)
- Canadian dollar
- Cayman Islands dollar
- Cypriot pound (as σεντ or sent)
- East Caribbean dollar
- Eritrean nakfa
- Estonian kroon (as sent)
- Eurozone euro - the coins bear the text EURO CENT; actual usage varies depending on language. Greek coins have "ΛΕΠΤΟ" ("lepto") on the obverse of the one-cent coin and "ΛΕΠΤΑ" ("lepta") on the obverse of the others.
- Fijian dollar
- Guyanese dollar
- Hong Kong dollar
- Indonesian rupiah (as sen)
- Jamaican dollar
- Kenyan shilling
- Liberian dollar
- Lithuanian litas (as centas)
- Malaysian ringgit (as sen)
- Maltese lira
- Mauritian rupee
- Namibian dollar
- Netherlands Antillean gulden
- New Zealand dollar
- Seychelles rupee
- Sierra Leonean leone
- Singapore dollar
- South African rand
- Sri Lankan rupee
- Suriname dollar
- Swazi lilangeni
- New Taiwan dollar
- Tanzanian shilling
- Trinidad and Tobago dollar
- Ugandan shilling
- United States dollar
- Zimbabwean dollar
- Indian rupee - divided into 100 paise
- Kuwaiti dinar - divided into 1000 fils
- Mauritanian ouguiya - divided into 5 khoums
- Malagasy ariary - divided into 5 iraimbilanja
- Romanian leu - divided into 100 bani
- Serbian dinar - divided into 100 paras
- Vietnamese đồng - 10 hào or 100 xu/su.
External links
- [US Cent information by year and type.] Histories, photos, mintages, mints, metal contents, edge designs, designers, and more.
| Cent derivatives |
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| Cent | Centavo | Céntimo | Centime | Centesimo |
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