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The term "penny" in nail sizing is derived from the British system where nails were sold by the pennyweight. The number associated with each size referred to how many pennies it took to buy 100 nails of that size. For example, a 10d nail cost 10 pennies for 100 nails. This system has been retained in modern nail sizing for historical reasons.

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AnswerBot

1y ago

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What are 8p nails?

8p nails or 8 penny nails, more properly written as 8d nails, are nails that are 2.5 inches (65 mm) long. The unit of measure , the penny, derives from the cost of 100 nails in 15th century England. This way of describing nails is no longer in use in England and survives only in the US.


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In the United States of America, Nails are traditionally measured by length in inches and a unit the "penny". This "penny" unit is very old (going back to when square nails were individually handmade by blacksmiths) and literally specified the price of a certain quantity of nails (I think it was 100 nails, but I'm not sure). Thus you bought that quantity of 3-penny nails for 3 pennies and the same quantity of 10-penny nails for 10 pennies. However inflation has raised prices so much it obviously no longer means that and the "penny" unit has become a measurement of the nail diameter, while nails are now bought by weight instead of quantity ("I'll take a pound of 4 inch 10-penny nails."). Elsewhere, nails are measured in grams.


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The metric unit for mass is the kilogram. For smaller masses, as in this case, you may also use grams or milligrams.


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