What Would a 'FOURPENNY ONE' be..

fourpenny bit ....hit


50p bit

2 pound bit

5 pound bit

????

9.6 new pence

dont know, but it may have had something to do with holding the coins in a fisted hand before the "clip" kind of like the brass knuckle effect. This is just my guess and i maybe way off base?

I got that off the web and it's what I thought a fourpenny one meant.

So in todays money with a fifty pence the nearest in size to an old penny - two quid.

Actually on old penny was bigger than a fifty pence piece.

2p I guess

Dr Crippen - My immediate thoughts, too -  a blow by the fist -  but not in such detail as you post.

However, your explanation makes sense as ...

FOUR Fingers in a clenched fist.

FOUR Pennies, on edge, clenched between each finger, and thumb/index finger

Protruding enough to increase the damage done by the blow, but not enough to fall out of the gaps between the fingers.

After all - The assailant would want to lose his Fourpence back.   

Probably based on the same principle as the Peaky Blinders - a Razor Blade slightly protruding from a Peak Cap neb.

^ * The assailant would NOT want to lose his Fourpence.

i wouldnt want to try punching with four pennies like that
and penny between thumb and forefinger would be odd

boxers did sometimes weight their gloves with old pennies

a 4d was a groat or fourpenny bit and it rhymes with hit