red cent

noun, Informal.
1.
a cent, as representative of triviality:
His promise isn't worth a red cent.
Origin
1830-40, Americanism
British Dictionary definitions for red cent

red cent

noun
1.
(used with a negative) (informal, mainly US) a cent considered as a trivial amount of money (esp in the phrases not have a red cent, not worth a red cent, etc)
Word Origin and History for red cent
n.

obsolete type of copper penny, 1839, American English, from red (adj.1) + cent. "Red" has been the color of copper, brass, and gold since ancient times.

Idioms and Phrases with red cent

red cent

see under not worth a dime