Sign for Penny in ASL
Quick answer: The sign for penny in ASL refers to the physical one-cent coin used in United States currency.
How to Sign Penny in ASL
The sign for PENNY begins with a 1-hand touching the forehead on the dominant side. The handshape then changes into a modified-O handshape and touches the palm of the non-dominant hand to represent a coin.
This sign refers to the physical coin object rather than simply the monetary value of one cent.
| Dominant Handshape | 1-hand then modified-O hand |
|---|---|
| Non-Dominant Handshape | Open-B hand |
| Location | Touch the forehead on the dominant side with the 1-hand, then touch the palm of the non-dominant hand with the modified-O handshape |
| Palm Orientation | 1-hand palm inward; modified-O hand palm facing the non-dominant side |
| Movement | Touch the forehead with the index finger, then touch the palm of the non-dominant hand |
| Non-Manual Markers | Neutral expression |
When to Use This Sign
Use PENNY when referring to the actual one-cent coin, loose change, coin collections, or physical money objects.
- counting coins
- piggy banks
- coin collections
- money vocabulary lessons
- finding mysterious coins under couch cushions
Somehow pennies still appear everywhere, despite people insisting they never carry cash anymore.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing PENNY with the monetary amount ONE CENT
- Skipping the forehead portion of the sign
- Failing to change from the 1-hand to the modified-O handshape
- Making the coin movement too large or exaggerated
Example Sentences
ASL gloss: I FIND PENNY
English: I found a penny.
ASL gloss: CHILD SAVE MANY PENNY
English: The child saved many pennies.
Related Money Signs in ASL
Learning Tip
Many ASL money signs use movements connected to handling coins or currency. Practicing PENNY alongside other coin signs like NICKEL, DIME, and QUARTER helps students recognize subtle differences more quickly.
Small handshape changes matter a lot in money vocabulary. Accidentally signing the wrong coin probably will not destroy the economy, but it may confuse your math homework.
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