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
Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?"
Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why do you put me to the test? Bring me a denarius, and let me look at it."
"Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?" They said, "Caesar's."
Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each one of them to have a little."
And I heard what sounded 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!"