Penny: (Gr. denarion), a silver coin of the value of about 7 1/2 or 8d. of
our present money. It is thus rendered in the New Testament, and is
more frequently mentioned than any other coin
(Matthew 18:28; 20:2,9,13)
(Mark 6:37; 14:5) etc. It was the daily pay of a Roman soldier in the
time of Christ. In the reign of Edward III. an English penny was a
labourer's day's wages. This was the "tribute money" with reference to
which our Lord said, "Whose image and superscription is this?" When
they answered, "Caesar's," he replied, "Render therefore to Caesar the
things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's"
(Matthew 22:19; Mark 12:15)
