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In currency, the cent is a monetary unit that equals <math>1/100<math>th of the basic unit of value. It also refers to the coin which is worth one cent. In the US and Canada, a common nickame of the 1¢ coin is penny, plural pennies. (In the UK and pre-euro Ireland, the name of the 1p coin is also penny, pl. pence.)
Etymologically, the word cent derives from the Latin word centum which means hundred. Mints all over the world usually create coins with values ranging from <math>1/100<math>th to <math>100/100<math>th of the monetary unit, while reserving bills for higher values. However, coins with a <math>200/100<math>th or <math>500/100<math>th value are not uncommon, especially in cases of commemorative coinage.
Cent amounts between 1 and 99 cents are usually indicated by the one or two digits followed by a lower-case letter c (1c, 2c), or by a cent sign which is usually pierced top to bottom by a forward slash or a vertical line: ¢ (e.g., 1¢, 2¢).
Other monetary unit subdivision systems are possible, such as the old pound sterling, which until decimalisation in 1970 was subdivided into <math>1/20<math>ths (shillings - s) and <math>1/240<math>ths (old pence - d).
Examples of currencies around the world featuring cents are:
Examples of currencies which do not feature cents
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