where did the expression my 2 cents come from
"My two cents" ("my 2 ¢") and its longer version "put my two cents in" is an American idiomatic expression, taken from the original English idiom "to put in my two penny worth" or "my two-cents." It is used to preface the tentative statement of one's opinion. By deprecating the opinion to follow -- suggesting its value is only two cents, a very small amount -- the user of the phrase, showing politeness and humility, hopes to lessen the impact of a possibly contentious statement. However, it is also sometimes used ironically when expressing a strongly held opinion. The phrase is also sometimes used out of habit to preface uncontentious opinions. For example: "If I may put my two cents in, that hat doesn't do you any favors." (A polite way of saying, for example: That hat is ugly). Another example would be: "My two cents is that you should sell your stock now."