hope this helps
tWhat is the origin of ';penny'; in a nail, such as a 16 penny nail? Not sure if i spelled this right btw.....?
In the US, the length and diameter of a nail is designated by its penny size. This unit's abbreviation is d (e.g. 10d for 10 penny nails), as for British pence before decimalization. A smaller number indicates a shorter, thinner nail and a larger number indicates a longer, thicker nail (e.g. common 10d nails are .148'; in diameter and 3'; long). Nails under 1录 in., often called brads, are sold mostly in small packages with only a length designation (e.g. 陆'; (12 mm), 1鈪?quot; (28 mm), etc.).
It is commonly believed that the origin of the term ';penny'; in relation to nail size is based on the old custom in England of selling nails by the hundred. A hundred nails that sold for six pence were ';six penny'; nails. The larger the nail, the more a hundred nails would cost, hence the larger nails have a larger number for their penny size. This classification system was still used in England in the 18th century, but is obsolete there now.
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