Mere pence? A wicked lie - it's a fortune! (4)

I believe the answer is:

pile

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'a fortune' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'mere pence? a wicked lie' is the wordplay.
'mere pence?' becomes 'p' (I am not sure about the 'mere' bit.).
'a wicked' indicates an anagram.
'lie' anagrammed gives 'ile'.
'p'+'ile'='PILE'

'it's' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pile that I've seen before include "lot of money" , "Heap, carpet surface" , "Post" , "Part of reactor" , "Stake" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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