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They can be spent north from the Pennines (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pennies

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'they' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'spent north from the pennines' is the wordplay.
'spent' indicates an anagram.
'north' becomes 'N' (abbreviation).
'from' is a deletion indicator.
'pennines' with 'n' taken away is 'penines'.
'penines' with letters rearranged gives 'PENNIES'.

'can be' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pennies that I've seen before include "change" , "Monetary units" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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