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 a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.
But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They asked him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?"
Should we pay, or should we not pay?" But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it."
"Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?" They answered, "Caesar's."
Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that everyone of them may receive a little."
I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenixes of barley for a denarius. Do not damage the oil and the wine."