more on tuppence

[flying_ford_anglia]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C6691
From: flying_ford_anglia
Subject: Re: more on tuppence
Reply To: [Yahoo! #6666] Re: Writing without compromise
Date: 8/12/00 5:30 am  (ET)

<<Does anyone know how the phrase 'two cents worth' originated (a Brit
on another list said 'my
tuppence worth'). Could it have been the price of a stamp with which to
write a Letter to the Editor?>>

In the region (and era) I come from, we'd say 'my two pen'orth', meaning
'my two pennies' worth'. It's the sort of phrase Hagrid might use,
if he was remotely familiar with Muggle money, whcih he isn't.

Tuppence is cuter though. Being anciet enough, I have fond memories of
a pre-decimalisation British coin called a 'threepence' or 'threepenny
bit' (pronounced 'thruppence/threppance' or 'thrup-nee bit'). It was
gold-coloured and multi-sided and seemed to have far more value than
just three pennies.


Neil

My two pen'orth