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
After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
And those servants went out on the crossroads and got together as many as they found, both bad and good, so [the room in which] the wedding feast [was held] was filled with guests.
But He replied to them, Give them something to eat yourselves. And they said to Him, Shall we go and buy 200 denarii [about forty dollars] worth of bread and give it to them to eat?
Should we pay [them] or should we not pay [them]? But knowing their hypocrisy, He asked them, Why do you put Me to the test? Bring Me a coin (a denarius), so I may see it.
Show Me a denarius (a coin)! Whose image and inscription does it have? They answered, Caesar's.
Philip answered Him, Two hundred pennies' (forty dollars) worth of bread is not enough that everyone may receive even a little.
And I heard what seemed to be a voice from the midst of the four living creatures, saying, A quart of wheat for a denarius [a whole day's wages], and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not harm the oil and the wine!