When Kahlan is in disguise as Archer Dunn's wife (who is in fact Richard in disguise), after she slaps him, she yells, "You haven't sent a penny home for your children." While previously sums of money were expressed in gold, those were often representing large sums, like for bribes, in amounts that were beyond what ordinary citizens would see in their lives. Ordinary soldiers earn pay in smaller increments, such as, for example, copper pennies. A term which has been in use for centuries, not just referring to American one cent pieces.