As right as Curiously, this expression and 'as nice as ninepence' are unrelated.

The
ninepence ninepence here referring to the silver ninepenny pieces that were in
common use in England until 1696.
As rich as Croesus Croesus was King of Lydia, 560-546BC. His riches and power
were such that his name became a byword for great wealth.
Two cents worth Poker games often required a small bet to be made by a new
player before they could join the game. Notionally offering two
cents (or two bits) late came to be used as a way of entering
your opinion in a conversation
Have the Midas
touch
Break the bank

O.E. pening, penig "penny," from P.Gmc. *panninggaz (cf. O.N. penningr,
Swed. pänning, O.Fris. panning, M.Du. pennic, O.H.G. pfenning, Ger.
Pfennig, not recorded in Goth., where skatts is used instead), of unknown
origin. The English coin was originally set at one-twelfth of a shilling and was
of silver, later copper, then bronze. There are two plural forms: pennies of
individual coins, pence collectively. In translations it rendered various foreign
coins of small denomination, esp. L. denarius, whence comes its abbreviation
d. As Amer.Eng. colloquial for cent, it is recorded from 1889. Penniless
"destitute" is attested from c.1310. Pennyweight is O.E. penega gewiht,
originally the weight of a silver penny. Penny-a-liner "writer for a journal or
newspaper" is attested from 1834. Penny dreadful "cheap and gory fiction"
dates from c.1870. Phrase penny-wise and pound-foolish is recorded from
1607.

O.E. clafre, from P.Gmc. *klaibron. First ref. in Eng. to luck of a four-leaf
clover is from 1507. To be in clover "live luxuriously" is 1710, "clover being
extremely delicious and fattening to cattle" [Johnson].
.1290, "coinage, metal currency," from O.Fr. moneie, from L. moneta "mint,
coinage," from Moneta, a title of the Roman goddess Juno, in or near whose
temple money was coined; perhaps from monere "advise, warn" (see
monitor), with the sense of "admonishing goddess," which is sensible, but the
etymology is difficult. Extended early 19c. to include paper money. To make
money "earn pay" is first attested 1457. Highwayman's threat your money or
your life first attested 1841. Phrase in the money (1902) originally meant "one
who finishes among the prize-winners" (in a horse race, etc.). The challenge to
put (one's) money where (one's) mouth is is first recorded 1942. Moneybags
"rich person" is from 1818; money-grub "one who is sordidly intent on
amassing money" is from 1768.
"I am not interested in money but in the things of which money is the symbol."
[Henry Ford]

Re: As right as ninepence

Posted by James Briggs on September 29, 2005
In Reply to: As right as ninepence posted by Marcus on September 28, 2005

: Can anybody tell me where the saying "as right as ninepence" came from?

According to Brewer, this is a corruption of 'nice/right as nine-pins'. 'Nine-pins' is a game (skittles) in

which the nine 'men' are set up with precise exactitude in three rows.

Re: As rich as Croesus

Posted by ESC on September 14, 2002

In Reply to: As rich as Croesus posted by Ed Stansell on September 13, 2002

: Some may find it interesting; Herodotus tells us that Croesus was so rich that he had every guest
take as much gold as he could carry, upon leaving. One fellow asked Croesus if he could take his gold
at a later date, to which Croesus assented. The man return a few weeks later with a coat that was
covered with pockets inside and out. Not only this, but his body and the hair on his head was greased.
He went into the treasury of Croesus where he disrobed and rolled in gold dust so that he was gilded
from head to toe He filled all the pockets of his coat with coins and nuggets. He even filled his mouth
with coins. His load was so cumbersom that he could barely move. Croesus thought this site hilarious.
Though a tad poorer after this episode, Croesus was still a very rich King. To which, I think this story
illustrates.

I've heard "rich as Caesar." Probably people say it that way because they can't pronounce Croesus.