The Collaborative International Dictionary
Stiver \Sti"ver\, n. [D. stuiver; akin to G. st["u]ber, Dan. styver, Sw. styfver.] A Dutch coin, and money of account, of the value of two cents, or about one penny sterling; hence, figuratively, anything of little worth.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context historical English) A small Dutch coin worth one twentieth of a guilder. 2 Anything of small value.
Wikipedia
The word stiver is derived from the Dutch Stuiver. It was a currency denomination in use in Ceylon from 1801 until 1821. It was also a denomination that formed part of the currency system of Demerara-Essequibo (later British Guiana, now Guyana).
A stiver had a value of one sixth of a shilling.
The currency was also mentioned in the famous poem by Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin: "With you, don't think I'll bate [debate concerning] a stiver! And folks who put me in a passion may find me pipe after another fashion."
Usage examples of "stiver".
On every ducat you will make a stiver and one-ninth, which comes to twenty-two thousand, two hundred and twenty-two of our florins.
Not a stiver in his pockets, nor as much as a sleeve-link to help pay for the burial.
Mystra had been, nine stiver stars floated, tracing an upright circle around a blue flame.
A greater thief would insist on taking every stiver from the coffers, could not support this idly conceived carnage.
I will disinherit you of every stick, stone, and stiver that the law allows me, and start you in the enjoyment of the rest with my bitterest curse.
Behind him, the aged butler, Stivers, bowed himself out, closing the door with a muffled click.
Such profligacy was unlike Stivers, she thought with faint puzzlement as, treading warily, she began to ascend the steps.
Surely Stivers could not have timed their arrival as precisely as that.
Gabby, Miss Claire, Miss Beth, Stivers only just now sent to tell me you had arrived.
Ushered into a tall, paneled room lined with books, she waited until Stivers had withdrawn and the door was firmly shut before advancing on Jem, who stood before the fire, his hands clasped behind his back, a worried frown on his face.
By the time her sister had at last gone to bed, and Gabby had pretended to retire too so as to rid herself of Mary and Stivers and the rest of the hovering staff, it was past midnight.
Just then Stivers skidded into view outside the open library door, clad in breeches and braces that had been pulled on over his nightshirt, bare feet thrust anyhow into unlaced shoes.
Despite being practically thrust into the room by the combined efforts of those behind him, who spilled in after, Stivers managed to retain his dignity as well as his feet.
Clearly shaken by the sight of his bleeding master but with the air of one rising nobly to the occasion, Stivers acknowledged the directive with a brief bow.
As the portly, white-haired surgeon entered with a bustle of importance, Gabby caught a glimpse of Stivers and Mrs.