Counting Coins: Pennies, Nickels, Dimes and Quarters
Hi, I'm Benjamin! Coins are small pieces of money. Let's find out what each one is worth.
Meet the coins
We count coins in cents. The sign for cents is ¢.
- A penny is worth 1¢. It is the brown coin.
- A nickel is worth 5¢.
- A dime is worth 10¢. It is the smallest of the four coins!
- A quarter is worth 25¢. It is the biggest of the four.
Tip: Size does not tell you the value. A dime is smaller than a penny, but a dime is worth more.
100 cents make one dollar. We write one dollar as $1 or $1.00.
How to count coins
Start with the coin worth the most. Then count on.
Here is a quarter, a dime, a nickel and a penny.
Say: 25, then 35, then 40, then 41. That's 41¢.
Count dimes by tens: 10, 20, 30. Count nickels by fives: 5, 10, 15.
Word problem
Mia has 2 dimes and 3 pennies. How much money does Mia have?
Start with the dimes: 10, 20. Then count on the pennies: 21, 22, 23.
Mia has 23¢.
Game: Piggy Bank Count
Tap the total for the coins. You get 10 rounds.
Score: 0 / 0 · Best: 0
Try the interactive version at jugami.com/measurement/counting-coins/
Self-guided quiz
For grown-ups
This page builds toward Common Core standard 2.MD.C.8: solve word problems with dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies, using the $ and ¢ symbols. Grab a handful of real coins and count them together, biggest value first.
Sources
- Common Core State Standards, Grade 2, 2.MD.C.8
- U.S. Mint: Coin Specifications (coin sizes and colors)
Coin drawings are simple original SVG art made for Jugami. They show size and color, not the real coin designs.