Counting Mixed Coins

Sort the coins by kind before you count anything.

Start with the biggest

Count the quarters, then the dimes, then the nickels, then the pennies.

Change your step as you go

Count 25, 50 for two quarters, then carry on 60, 70 for two dimes.

Why that order

Big steps first keeps the running total simple. Starting with pennies is slow and easy to lose.

Sort before you count

With mixed coins, first sort them into piles by kind, then start counting with the most valuable pile and work down. Starting with quarters, then dimes, then nickels, then pennies keeps you counting in ever-smaller steps, which is much easier to hold in your head.

A worked case

Two quarters, one dime, three pennies. Quarters: 25, 50. Add the dime: 60. Add three pennies: 61, 62, 63. Total 63 cents. Notice how the step size shrinks as you go — that is what makes this order comfortable.

Writing the amount

Sixty-three cents is written 63¢ or $0.63. Both are correct. The dollar form always shows two digits after the point, so five cents is $0.05, not $0.5. Getting that second digit right matters a great deal once you start adding money.