How to Understand the Penny Number of a Nail

What does the penny number of a nail refer to?

a) Nail diameter
b) Nail length
c) Nail head shape
d) Nail weight

Final answer:

The penny number of a nail is an old measurement term that refers to the length of the nail. The term 'penny' comes from when nails were sold by the penny in England.

The penny number of a nail refers to the length of the nail, not the diameter, the head shape or the weight. The term "penny" is abbreviated with the letter 'd', a historical reference to when nails were sold by the penny in England. For example, a 10d nail is 3 inches long. The larger the penny size, the longer the nail.

The term "penny" in the context of nails doesn't refer to a monetary value but rather to a historical system of measurement. It originated from England, where the price of 100 nails of a particular size was expressed in pennies. The higher the penny number, the longer and thicker the nail. For example, a 10-penny nail is larger than an 8-penny nail. This system is still used today in the United States, with common sizes ranging from 2-penny to 60-penny. It's a quirky naming convention that has persisted through centuries in the world of carpentry and construction.