Penny Napoleonic Wars prompted the use of base metals in 1797. Despite the decimalization of currencies in the United States and, later, throughout the British Commonwealth, the name remains in informal use. No penny is currently formally subdivided, although farthings (¼ d.), halfpennies, and half cents have previously been minted and the mill (1/10¢) remains in use as a unit of account in some contexts. "Penny" is first attested in a 1394 Scots text, a variant of Old English ', a development of numerous variations including ', ', and '. The etymology of the term "penny" is uncertain, although cognates are
Take a penny, leave a penny purposely made container, perhaps with an advertisement or with text advising the customer to "take a penny, leave a penny". It is not uncommon to occasionally see nickels, dimes, and even quarters in a penny dish; a cashier short on pennies but nearing the end of their shift may swap one of the higher denomination coins for the equivalent number of pennies, especially if a large number of pennies are present in the dish. Take a penny, leave a penny Take a penny, leave a penny (sometimes Give a penny, take a penny, penny tray, or penny pool) refers to