How much is 60 lbs of pennies nickels dimes and quarters worth?

Answer 1

A followup to the Expert Answer:

• The value of any bulk collection of coins also depends on whether any of them are worth more to a collector. That's why it's never a good idea to simply take them to a bank - or worse yet, dump them into a supermarket coin-counter that will in addition extract a 9 or 10 percent service fee.

• The weight ratio of dimes and quarters is intentional, and the same applies to half-dollars and old large-size $1 coins as well. The ratios date from the time when each coin contained (approximately) its face value in silver. The metal value of a specific weight of coins had to be th same not matter what denominations were used; otherwise people would trade the lighter coins for heavier ones and make a profit on the difference.

  When coins were changed to cupronickel-clad composition in the 1960s their size ratios were kept the same so they'd work compatibly in vending machines, thus their weight ratios stayed the same as well.

Answer 2

The exact answer depends on the mix of coins, but a range can be calculated. The US Mint's website gives the mass (weight) specifications of each coin (in grams).

Penny: 2.500 grams, Nickel: 5.000 grams, Dime: 2.268 grams, and Quarter: 5.670 grams. Thus the number of each type of coins can be calculated in 1 pound of coins:

• 181.44 pennies per pound = $1.8144
• 90.72 nickels per pound = $4.536
• 200 dimes per pound = $20.00
• 80 quarters per pound = $20.00

It's interesting to note that 1 pound of quarters and dimes has the same dollar value. For 60 pounds, the value can range from a minimum of $108.86 (all pennies) to a maximum $1,200 (all dimes and quarters).