Question for all you coin mathematicians

MICHAELDIXON

See if you can figure this out.

I have a bag of Lincoln cents. The bag weighs 2.5 ounces and the contents weigh 12 pounds, 3 ounces. How many Lincoln cents are in the bag?

Edited to add: All the coins are circulated copper wheat cents.

goose3

about 12 pounds and 1/2 ounce worth.

flaminio

Without knowing the mix of copper vs Zincolns, I don't see how this can be figured out (aside from just guessing).

MICHAELDIXON

Without knowing the mix of copper vs Zincolns, I don't see how this can be figured out (aside from just guessing).


All the coins are copper wheat cents.

Cladiator

Also when you're talking about a huge quantity of coins it will make a difference if they are unc or circulated. A bag full of circulated cents weighing 50lbs will have more coins in it than a bag of unc. cents weighing 50lbs.

123cents

I would say about 1755.

RKKay

3, plus some weights.

StrikeOutXXX

Let's see: 12 pounds and 3 ounces of contents.
195 ounces of contents
5528.15 grams of contents

all wheat pennies (3.11 grams each)

1,777.54 wheat pennies assuming they are MS.

Edit: since you said they are circulated, I'll guess about 1840 (That's factoring 3 grams per cent).
(I'm not subtracting the 2.5 ounces for the bag, as you said the CONTENTS weighed 12lb-3oz, so the bag doesn't matter here.

goose3

<< <i>3, plus some weights. >>



no fair...you sold them to him didn't you?

TheCaveTroll

what kind of ounces are we talking about? did you weigh the bag on your bathroom scale or on a scale measuring troy ounces?

Well, assuming they are all copper (1909-1981, excluding 1943) and that they are all VF or nicer, then it is approx. 1800 cents if you used the Avoirdupois weight and approx. 1730 cents if you used their troy weight.

RKKay

<< <i>

<< <i>3, plus some weights. >>



no fair...you sold them to him didn't you? >>



Shhh! Don't leak my tricks!

Barndog

I'd say the bag of feathers weighs less than the bag of bricks.

Seriously, why don't you run them through a coin counter and post an answer.

MICHAELDIXON

what kind of ounces are we talking about? did you weigh the bag on your bathroom scale or on a scale measuring troy ounces?

I took them to the post office and they were weighed on postal scales. The clerk thought I was crazy when I explained I wanted to post this question.

Seriously, why don't you run them through a coin counter and post an answer.

I will post the answer in the morning.

richardshipp

If its imperial pounds then you have 84,218.75 grains of wheat cents. Each new weighed 48 grains. Therefore your minimum number of cents in the bag is 1,754.56. Allowing for some loss of weight from circulation would increase the number of coins..... ummmm I'll guess by 5%. That would kick up the number to 1,846.9 so call it 1,847.

Please enter me in your "heavy give-away"

DorkGirl

1742.....+ or - depending on the amount of circulation.

Longacre

<< <i>Let's see: 12 pounds and 3 ounces of contents.
195 ounces of contents
5528.15 grams of contents

all wheat pennies (3.11 grams each)

1,777.54 wheat pennies assuming they are MS.

Edit: since you said they are circulated, I'll guess about 1840 (That's factoring 3 grams per cent).
(I'm not subtracting the 2.5 ounces for the bag, as you said the CONTENTS weighed 12lb-3oz, so the bag doesn't matter here. >>




I better stick to reading the Internal Revenue Code all day. It's easier.

PhillyJoe

I always enjoy telling people there is more copper in a nickel than a copper cent. I get lots of confused looks in return.

I'll guess 1776 cents.

Joe

jdsinva

We actually did an experiement in science class weighing various cent coins and I found most pre-1982 cents were actually closer to 3 grams, so I'll go with a count of 1843.

MICHAELDIXON

I thought all the mathematicians on the board would figure this one out rather quickly.

Aegis3

<< <i>I thought all the mathematicians on the board would figure this one out rather quickly. >>



They did. 1778. Or, if you want some error bars, let's say 1780 +/- 30.

StrikeOutXXX

<< <i>I thought all the mathematicians on the board would figure this one out rather quickly. >>



You weren't looking for some off the wall answer like: If the bag can be weighed separately, there are no coins in the bag are you?

slipgate

1828? 150 pennies/pound * 12 = 1800 + ((3/16) * 150)

Frankcoins

1777 Not accounting for wear

MICHAELDIXON

150 pennies/pound * 12 = 1800 + ((3/16) * 150)

WOW! I like that! You are very close. If you used 148 to allow for some wear, you would be right on!

DMWJR

1804

fastrudy

1792 cents

MICHAELDIXON

After that last "hint," 1804 it is. I'm going to have another one weighed today. I thought more people would actually guess the correct answer or close to it just by the weight.

TwoSides2aCoin

Michael, what went through my mind was:
How many errors, key dates, higher grades are in there ?
It's the treasure hunter in me, not the mathemetician.

STONE

I would guess 1845. I know a lot of the guesses are around mine, but this is my guess through math not just being a pest.