Crossword Genius

Coppers in prison cell, half cut (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pence

'coppers' is the definition.
(copper can mean a penny coin)

'prison cell half cut' is the wordplay.
'prison' becomes 'pen' (both can mean an enclosure).
'half cut' indicates taking half.
'cell' cut in half is 'ce'.
'pen'+'ce'='PENCE'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for pence that I've seen before include "British coins" , "Small quantity of money" , "Copper coins" , "some European capital" , "''... fumble in a greasy till/and add the halfpence to the ...'' (Yeats)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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