Some Simple Tips for Counting Coins (without a counter)

We originally ran this simple tip some years back, in 1997, and again in 2003. While many in our industry have switched to using cards, most of us still count coins. Some old stuff is still interesting because some old ideas still work. Sometimes the old ideas are even better than the faddish new ones.

When your coin counter fails to do its “countering” and has to leave home to be repaired, it might feel like you are in a big coin laundry management hole. Instead of winging it for a week of two with your records, or rushing out to buy a counter, consider some of these alternatives.

Cans “shaken, not stirred”

Take a 13 ounce, one pound coffee can and pour it full with quarters. Place your hand over the top and shake it a little. Then pat down the coins until they are level with the top of the can. You now have approximately $170 worth of quarters. Done right, it’s within a dollar either way. One half is approximately $85, but it is not as accurate as using the full can method.

With coffee cans, one can accurately judge the coin count without actually counting it. For an example, drop three cans worth of quarters into your change machine coin hopper and you’ve got $510. When you collect, dump the changer hopper coin into a can and estimate the amount of money you have left. Now count the bills and you’ll find it is accurate enough, and a close enough system to satisfy you until the counter is repaired and returned.

For those who bank coin in $500 bags, drop three cans in the bag and then remove forty quarters. When the bank counts the bags, your account will either be debited or credited if there is any adjustment. It is so close there will hardly be a difference.

One of the things you will notice about using the cans is how fast it is. Although the technique may not be as precise as counting, it is easier to do and actually much faster than using a counter.

Some are always weighting to count.

Another quick count method is to weigh coins. Many owners weigh coin all of the time. They swear by it, saying that it is faster and as accurate as using coin counters. Some of the scales available today are so precise that one can use them to count either coins or bills by weight.

However, for those who like using a coin counter, and don’t want to spend the big bucks to buy a precise scale, even an old bathroom scale can do the job. Most are accurate enough to provide a nearly scientific count.

Know your container’s weight.

Take an empty bucket, or whatever else you plan to use to hold the coin on the scale alone, and see how much it weighs. You may have to play around with it a few times to find a precise weight. Once it is weighed, write it down somewhere where you can find it. Now begin weighing your coins and subtract the containers weight each time you weigh coins. It’s easier to calculate if the container weight is exactly to a quarter or half pound.

There are 85 quarters to the pound, or $20.25. Ten pounds of quarters = $202.50, and twenty pounds is $405. If a container is half a pound and the scale reads 5.5 pounds, it means there are 5 pounds of quarters, or $101.25. This system is so simple and easy to use that you may never want to go back to using a counter again. Some operators have been using this method for coin counting for many years.

It worked for us, and it will for you too.

Date:-05/28/2011
By:-Admin


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	Some Simple Tips for Counting Coins (without a counter) We originally ran this simple tip some years back, in 1997, and again in 2003. While many in our industry have switched to using cards, most of us still count coins. Some old stuff is still interesting because some old ideas still work. Sometimes the old ideas are even better than the faddish new ones. When your coin counter fails to do its “countering” and has to leave home to be repaired, it might feel like you are in a big coin laundry management hole. Instead of winging it for a week of two with your records, or rushing out to buy a counter, consider some of these alternatives. Cans “shaken, not stirred” Take a 13 ounce, one pound coffee can and pour it full with quarters. Place your hand over the top and shake it a little. Then pat down the coins until they are level with the top of the can. You now have approximately $170 worth of quarters. Done right, it’s within a dollar either way. One half is approximately $85, but it is not as accurate as using the full can method. With coffee cans, one can accurately judge the coin count without actually counting it. For an example, drop three cans worth of quarters into your change machine coin hopper and you’ve got $510. When you collect, dump the changer hopper coin into a can and estimate the amount of money you have left. Now count the bills and you’ll find it is accurate enough, and a close enough system to satisfy you until the counter is repaired and returned. For those who bank coin in $500 bags, drop three cans in the bag and then remove forty quarters. When the bank counts the bags, your account will either be debited or credited if there is any adjustment. It is so close there will hardly be a difference. One of the things you will notice about using the cans is how fast it is. Although the technique may not be as precise as counting, it is easier to do and actually much faster than using a counter. Some are always weighting to count. Another quick count method is to weigh coins. Many owners weigh coin all of the time. They swear by it, saying that it is faster and as accurate as using coin counters. Some of the scales available today are so precise that one can use them to count either coins or bills by weight. However, for those who like using a coin counter, and don’t want to spend the big bucks to buy a precise scale, even an old bathroom scale can do the job. Most are accurate enough to provide a nearly scientific count. Know your container’s weight. Take an empty bucket, or whatever else you plan to use to hold the coin on the scale alone, and see how much it weighs. You may have to play around with it a few times to find a precise weight. Once it is weighed, write it down somewhere where you can find it. Now begin weighing your coins and subtract the containers weight each time you weigh coins. It’s easier to calculate if the container weight is exactly to a quarter or half pound. There are 85 quarters to the pound, or $20.25. Ten pounds of quarters = $202.50, and twenty pounds is $405. If a container is half a pound and the scale reads 5.5 pounds, it means there are 5 pounds of quarters, or $101.25. This system is so simple and easy to use that you may never want to go back to using a counter again. Some operators have been using this method for coin counting for many years. It worked for us, and it will for you too. Date:-05/28/2011 By:-Admin