Reference: Penny, Pennyworth
Smith
In the New Testament "penny," either alone or in the compound "pennyworth," occurs as the rendering of the Roman denarius.
Mt 20:2; 22:10; Mr 6:37; 12:15; Lu 20:24; Joh 6:7; Re 6:6
The denarius was the chief Roman silver coin, and was worth about 15 to 17 cents.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
"When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.
"Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.
But He answered them, "You give them something to eat!" And they said to Him, "Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?"
"Shall we pay or shall we not pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at."
"Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?" They said, "Caesar's."
Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little."
And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine."