red cent

Etymology
Probably from the color of the copper from which the coin was minted. Prior to 1909, a brighter nickel-based cent was used, often called the white cent. It is also possible that the red originally referred to the obverse bearing an Indian head stamp. See .

Noun

 * 1)  A copper penny.
 * 2)  A very small amount of money.
 * I wouldn't pay one red cent for a ticket.
 * 1) * 1867, Augustin Daly, Under the Gaslight, Act III, Scene 2, page 28:
 * Snorkey. But I ain't got two cents. What's a fellow to do if he hasn't got a red?

Usage notes

 * Usually used in the negative.

Translations

 * Danish: rød øre
 * Dutch: rooie cent
 * Finnish:
 * French:
 * Japanese: びた一文
 * Polish:, złamany szeląg