Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. ale selling for twopence a pint.

1725		View of London and Westminster 42: A Mugg of special Two-penny.
1731		Ordinary of Newgate His Account 8 Mar. 8/1: They call’d at the Hare, she ask’d for a Pint of Twopenny.
1740		Ordinary of Newgate His Account 6 Aug. 11/2: We all three went in at [...] the Butcher’s-Arms at Crouch-End, and there we drank 4 or 5 Full-Pots of Two-penny.
c.1786		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions n.p.: Twopenny. Beer fourpence a quart.
1827		Standard (London) 20 Oct. 1/4: Robin [...] proceeded to [...] call for a pint of twopenny.

2. a pawnbroker’s professional go-between, who charges twopence to take one’s goods to the pawnshop and negotiate a deal.

1890–1904

Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.