Songfacts®:

• This song tells the story of an American man who is born into wealth, sets off for a life of adventure overseas, but must return home when the money vanishes. Styx guitarist James Young sings lead on track and co-wrote it with Ray Brandle, a writer from outside the band. According to Young, it's "a comment on capitalism."
• The first line, "half penny, two penny, gold Krugerrand," refers to coins of very different values. A Krugerrand is a South African coin made of gold - quite valuable. Half penny and two penny coins could be found in olden times in some countries, and are of little value. This sets up the contrast in the song between rich and poor.
• The song is part of Paradise Theater, a concept album based on a real theater that was demolished in 1958. In "Half Penny Two Penny," we hear some dialog among workers who are tearing down the building, which they remember going to when they were kids.
  
  In 1981, the American economy was in the skids and corporate interests seemed to outweigh the public good. The Paradise Theater was a kind of allegory for the state of the country, with this song highlighting the inequality that exists.
• The song's writers, James Young and Ray Brandle, also teamed on another Styx song, "Witch Wolf," the opening track on the 1973 Styx album The Serpent Is Rising. Young says that for "Half Penny Two Penny," Brandle came up with the title. Knowing they needed a rocker for the Paradise Theater album, Young wrote the music accordingly.