Is a one cent coin a penny?

#4 – In the United States, the one-cent coin is not officially called a penny. Even though most of us refer to the U.S. one-cent coin as a “penny,” the coin is technically called a “cent” in the United States. Yep, the U.S. Mint officially named the coin a “cent.” And the U.S. Treasury officially called it a “one cent piece.”

When was the first penny minted?

The one cent piece has been minted since the year 1793! The name of "penny" actually derives from the British coin of the same name, which holds a similar value and place in British currency. The very first U.S. cent was minted in 1787, it was made of copper, and this coin was known as the Fugio cent, or the Franklin cent.

What is the official name of a penny?

The U.S. Mint 's official name for the coin is " cent " and the U.S. Treasury's official name is "one cent piece". The colloquial term penny derives from the British coin of the same name, which occupies a similar place in the British system. Pennies is the plural form (not to be confused with pence, which refers to the unit of currency ).