ninepence

[ nahyn-pens, -puh ns ]

/ ˈnaɪnˌpɛns, -pəns /

(used with a plural verb) British. nine pennies.

a former shilling of Great Britain, issued under Elizabeth I for use in Ireland, debased so that it was used in England as a ninepenny piece.

Origin of ninepence

First recorded in 1540–50; nine + pence

Oats are worth sixpence to ninepence a stone,—a ridiculous price; and we have not yet touched the bottom.

Ireland as It Is |Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)
Please nine and ninepence and a good halfpenny where 'twas a bad one, sir—ma'am I mane.

Far from the Madding Crowd |Thomas Hardy
With the ninepence already in their pockets, you will see that they were now possessors of quite a small fortune.

Prose Fancies (Second Series) |Richard Le Gallienne
My confidence was misplaced; for those cigars I had to pay a duty—incredible as it may seem—of three shillings and ninepence!

Cities of the Dawn |J. Ewing Ritchie

I handed him ninepence, shook hands with him on the strength of his revelation, and departed, labouring to look grave.

The Confessions of a Collector |William Carew Hazlitt