One or two, for instance, may appreciate the thing (5)
I believe the answer is:
digit
'one or two' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'appreciate the thing' is the wordplay.
'appreciate' becomes 'dig' (to dig something is to appreciate it).
'the thing' becomes 'it'.
'dig'+'it'='DIGIT'
'for instance may' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for digit that I've seen before include "Single numeral" , "A character" , "Single figure - finger" , "E.g. toe" , "finger, perhaps" .)