Definition of the word two pence

The phrase "two pence" originally referred to two coins, each worth one penny, in the old British monetary system. The penny was divided into 24 pieces, called "grains," each weighing around 1.5 grains (or about 0.01 g). These grains were used to determine the value of coins, with a penny containing 240 grains and a pound containing 224,000 grains. The two-penny piece, which was minted in the mid-18th century, was a coin worth two pence (or 48 grains). The coin was commonly referred to simply as "two pence" and was a popular currency for smaller transactions. It was made of bronze and weighed around 12 grams. In 1971, the British decimaled its currency, abolishing the penny and replacing it with a new decimal system. As a result, the value of two pence dropped to 1 pence (or 24 grains), and the two-penny piece was no longer used as legal tender. Instead, the value "two pence" now refers to the modern-day 2p coin, which is worth two pence (or 48 grains) in the decimalized pound sterling system.