I was looking at a Victorian-era Bailiwick of Jersey 1/12th of a Shilling recently, and got to wondering just what the monetary value of 1/12th of a shilling was at the time. (Our simplistic decimal system spoils you after being around it for so long.) After a little math I realized 1/12th of a shilling was just another name for a penny. Since the British had a name for almost every denomination back then (crowns, florins, groats, shilling, farthing, pence, etc) you would think Jersey could have given this particular denomination a better moniker, or just call it a penny like England did. It would have also taken up a lot less room on the coin. 

Wow, that is interesting, WHY DID THEY DO THAT?   My guess is it just sounds more impressive than calling it a Penny?  Or maybe there was some law that said a Penny had to have a certain specific diameter and weight to be legally called a Penny and the Bailiwick 1/12 Shilling was underweight, ect.   Pure speculation on my part, I am too lazy to do the actual research. 

They have always called.them penny's or half pennys. They started them with the postage stap. They came out to commemorate them they were called Penny Black.. We of course call them cents the proper way.

They have always called.them penny's or half pennys. They started them with the postage stap. They came out to commemorate them they were called Penny Black.. We of course call them cents the proper way.

Those darn British, always calling our beautiful cents pennies!